April 6, 2001

SENATE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 96

The Honorable Richard Romero and

Members of the Senate

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable President and Members of the Senate:

I have this day VETOED and am returning SENATE BILL 718, as amended, enacted by the Forty-Fifth Legislature, First Session, 2001.

This bill would include Medicaid managed care premium payments in the calculation of the assessment of the New Mexico Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool (NMCHIP) to insurers in the state. Such a change in the law would serve only to increase the cost and decrease the efficacy of the state’s cost-effective, state-of-the-art Medicaid managed care program, Salud!. I will continue to support this model as the best means to provide Medicaid services to New Mexico’s citizens.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor

RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR:

Time: _____________________ By:_____________________________

Secretary of State

Date ______________________

Time:______________________

Date_______________________ By:_____________________________

Chief Clerk of the Senate

Sem64sb662v