44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 27-2-12.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1987, Chapter 269, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

"27-2-12.3. MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT--EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL PHYSICIANS', DENTISTS', OPTOMETRISTS', PODIATRISTS' AND PSYCHOLOGISTS' SERVICES.--The human services department shall establish a rate for the reimbursement of physicians, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and psychologists for services rendered to medicaid patients that provides equal reimbursement for the same or similar services rendered without respect to the date on which such physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist or psychologist entered into practice in New Mexico, the date on which the physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist or psychologist entered into an agreement or contract to provide such services or the location in which such services are to be provided in the state; provided, however, that the requirements of this section shall not apply when the human services department contracts with entities pursuant to Section 27-2-12.6 NMSA 1978 to negotiate a rate of not less than the rate paid for medicare part B services for the reimbursement for services rendered to medicaid patients in the medicaid managed care system. Such rate of reimbursement shall also include not less than a two dollar ($2.00) per member per month management fee for physicians who serve as primary care providers."

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--

A. Five million six hundred thousand dollars ($5,600,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal year 2000 for the purpose of funding the reimbursement increases authorized in Section 27-2-12.3 NMSA 1978 in the following amounts for the following purposes:

(1) four million four hundred thousand dollars ($4,400,000) is appropriated for the purpose of increasing medicaid professional reimbursement levels; and

(2) one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) is appropriated for the purpose of funding the primary care provider physician management fee.

B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.