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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to HB137, SB24, SB144 & SB-243

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 208 appropriates 5,500.0 to the Department of Health for use as state match for the medicaid developmentally disabled waiver program to be used to provide services to those currently not receiving services.

Significant Issues

At the present time there is a waiting list for services for developmental disabilities clients in New Mexico. There are current legislative initiatives as well as the Legislative Finance Committee recommendation and that of the Department of Finance and Administration that are also efforts to accomplish the same goal. While there is a published estimate of 1700 persons who have requested services under the waiver, there presently exists no estimate of the number of individuals who qualify under medicaid for these services. There is also a concern that services may not be available in some rural areas of the state and that a period of time may be necessary to build that capacity.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The use of these general fund monies will leverage medicaid monies and significantly increase the amount of money directed to this program. As more and more individuals are provided services, the Department of Health may find it necessary to request the waiver be expanded to increase this capacity. Requests of this expansion should be made on a timely basis so that any possible federal delays are minimized.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Department of Health has an elaborate financial control and contracting system that will accommodate the planned expansion of this program.

DUPLICATION

This bill duplicates to one extent or another the following legislative introductions: SB24, SB144, HB137 and appropriations to be considered in HB2 and SB2.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Care must be taken to insure coordination of these efforts in order to avoid duplication and additional workload.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. How was the 5,500.0 amount determined?

MB/njw