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

REQUESTING THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO MAKE EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF NEW MEXICO DENTAL STUDENT POSITIONS UNDER THE WESTERN INTERSTATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION.

WHEREAS, access to dental services for vulnerable populations of New Mexicans, including medicaid recipients, is a serious and long-standing problem; and

WHEREAS, based on federal criteria twenty-two of our thirty-three counties have a critical shortage of dentists, with New Mexico ranking forty-eighth in the nation in the ratio of dentists to population; and

WHEREAS, by the estimated number of dentists needed to serve our population, the state is lacking one hundred sixty-five dentists; and

WHEREAS, having no in-state dental school, New Mexico is a party to the western interstate commission for higher education compact under which we pay for access to dental school student placements out of state; and

WHEREAS, the number of New Mexico dental students approved by the western interstate commission for higher education in recent years has declined;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the commission on higher education do everything possible to increase the number of positions for New Mexico dental students in the western interstate commission for higher education program in order to meet the needs of the state; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission on higher education vigorously pursue increased availability of positions for New Mexico dental students in institutions outside the western interstate commission for higher education compact; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission on higher education work with all of the state's post-secondary educational institutions to identify and encourage the study of dentistry by New Mexico students, especially those willing to practice this profession in areas identified as underserved by health professionals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the executive director of the commission on higher education.