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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 471 amends Section 24-1D-2 NMSA 1978 (being laws of 1994 Chapter 63, Section 2)

by adding the language "department -designated" and the phrase " a private primary care medical or dental office or clinic that is located in a department -designated medically underserved area or that serves a high-needs population and that has appropriate levels of service to medicaid clients and uninsured indigent clients, as determined by the department, and participates as appropriate in public health initiatives of the department."

Significant Issues

The addition of the amending language has the effect of opening up the New Mexico Health Service Corps to private physicians and dentists so they may participate in the recruitment and retention of health care professionals in rural and other areas if New Mexico that are underserved. The corps will provide financial support to health professions students in return for two years of full time service in rural or underserved locations. The addition of physicians and dentists in private practice has the advantage of offering more potential sites to the health professional student who is considering a rural practice.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Department of Health has the necessary financial structure to fiscally manage this program.

Administration of this program is within the budgeted resources of this department.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The New Mexico Health Service Corps has an appropriation that serves to provide financial assistance to health professions students and graduates of health professional programs that wish to serve in rural or underserved areas of the state. The addition of private offices or clinics will have the effect of reducing the number of students and the amount of financial resources that go into public practice sites unless additional resources are appropriated for this program. The addition of private practice sites will have the advantage of increasing the number of choices available for students and professionals who are considering a rural or underserved area of practice.

MB/njw