SENATE BILL 39

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES TO AMEND THE MEDICAID STATE PLAN TO PROVIDE HOME VISITING SERVICES FOR INFANTS BORN TO MEDICAID RECIPIENTS AND FOR THE INFANTS' FAMILIES.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public Assistance Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] MEDICAID INFANT AND FAMILY HOME VISITING PROGRAM.--

          A. Consistent with the federal act and subject to the appropriation and availability of federal and state funds, the secretary shall establish a home visiting program to provide home visiting services for infants who are born to medicaid recipients and for the infants' families. The home visiting program shall provide for at least six visits where home visiting services are provided to an infant or the infant's family during the infant's first year of life.

          B. As used in this section, "home visiting program" means a program that:  

                (1) uses home visiting as a primary service delivery strategy;

                (2) offers services to an infant and the infant's family that the infant's family receives on a voluntary basis;

                (3) provides a comprehensive array of services that:

                     (a) are designed to promote child well-being and prevent adverse childhood experiences;

                     (b) promote parental competence and successful early childhood health and development by building long-term relationships with families and optimizing the relationships between parents and children in their home environments; and

                     (c) deliver a variety of informational, educational, developmental, referral and other supports to an infant and the infant's family;

                (4) is research-based and grounded in relevant, empirically based best practices and knowledge that is linked to and measures the following outcomes:

                     (a) infants who are nurtured by their parents and caregivers;

                     (b) children who are physically and mentally healthy;

                     (c) infants and families who are safe; and

                     (d)  families who are connected to formal and informal supports in their communities;

                (5) has comprehensive home visiting standards that ensure high-quality service delivery and continuous quality improvement;

                (6) has demonstrated significant, sustained positive outcomes;

                (7) follows program standards that the secretary has established by rule and that specify the purpose, outcomes, duration and frequency of home visiting services;

                (8) follows research-based protocols;

                (9) employs well-trained and competent staff and provides continual professional supervision and development relevant to the specific program or model being delivered;

                (10) demonstrates strong links to other community-based services;

                (11) operates within an organization that ensures compliance with home visiting standards;

                (12) continually evaluates performance to ensure fidelity to the program standards;

                (13) collects data on program activities and program outcomes; and

                (14) is culturally and linguistically appropriate."

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