REQUESTING THAT THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION CONDUCT A STUDY AND PROVIDE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO STREAMLINE AND STANDARDIZE THE LICENSING AND CREDENTIALING OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

WHEREAS, licensing and credentialing of health care providers are essential to ensuring and protecting public health and safety; and

WHEREAS, licensing and credentialing by the state often result in excessive duplication and may hinder innovation in the delivery of health care; and

WHEREAS, licensing and credentialing are costly to the state, and duplicative requirements present considerable burdens to private industry; and

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the state to promote the development of shared systems for health care provider licensing and credentialing; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for a comprehensive review of current health care provider licensing and certification processes to make recommendations to simplify and consolidate licensing and credentialing; and

WHEREAS, current health care delivery systems and certain electronic health care access points may include out-of-state providers;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico health policy commission, in conjunction with the department of health, the regulation and licensing department and other affected state agencies, members of the public and the health care industry, be requested to conduct a study to review health care provider licensing and credentialing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care provider licensing and credentialing review include an inventory of all health care provider licensing and credentialing conducted by the state, identifying areas of duplication and overlap; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the assessment include:

A. the feasibility and desirability of coordination of health care provider licensing and credentialing;

B. the collection and maintenance of health care provider licensing and credentialing information;

C. multistate licensing and reciprocity in licensing; and

D. reducing duplication among state agencies and establishing uniform requirements for credentialing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico health policy commission report its findings and recommendations to an appropriate legislative interim committee by October 1, 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico health policy commission.