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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Campos

 

DATE TYPED:

2/13/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Study Military Hospital Corpsmen as Nurses

 

SB

SJM 48

 

 

ANALYST:

Geisler

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

$7.0 to $10.0

Non-Recurring

OSF

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Board of Nursing (BON)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Joint Memorial 48 requests the Board of Nursing study the licensing of military hospital corpsmen as nurses.  Senate Joint Memorial 48 also requests the Board of Nursing conduct an

in-depth comparison of curricula, training and job descriptions of military hospital corpsmen against requirements for levels of licensure for nurses in New Mexico and explore at what level of licensure military hospital corps should be able to sit for the examination and become license as nurses.  Senate Joint Memorial 48 directs the Board of Nursing consult with military and civilian physicians and hospital administrators, nursing home administrators, home health agencies, schools of nursing and other appropriate parties.  The Board of Nursing must report its findings to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 1, 2003.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The Board of Nursing recently became aware of this issue, by a presentation of a corpsman who wanted to become licensed as a nurse.  The Nursing Practice Act does not allow for the licensure as a nurse of a corpsman.  It is important to research the issue so that an evidence based recommendation regarding this issue may be made to the legislature. 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The BON has not budgeted for this study, but funding could be appropriated from the Board’s cash balance.    A   task force of approximately 15 members to include military and civilian physicians, hospital administrators, nursing home administrators, home health agencies, schools of nursing and other appropriate parties will need to be convened by the BON. Convening the task force will require additional resources for telephone, postage, supplies and travel.  The staff estimates a need for between 4 and 6 meetings.  Costs for per deim and travel for 15 advisory committee members for between 4 and 6 meetings is estimated to be  between $7,000 and $10,000.  Estimates are based on costs for past advisory committees. 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

It will be difficult with current staff to meet the deadline in this joint memorial, especially with the possibility of the BON working on the Nurse Licensure Compact proposed by SB 186. 

Staff would need to be reassigned from current activities to meet the deadline mandated in Senate Joint Memorial 48. 

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

While Senate Joint Memorial 48 does not request a study of licensure of hospital corpsman as emergency medical technicians, the memorial does suggest that military hospital corpsman provide services similar to civilian emergency medical technicians.  The Department of Health administers the Emergency Medical Services Act and licenses emergency medical technicians.  It may be worthwhile to have the Department of Health explore this option for military hospital corpsman.

 

ALTERNATIVES

 

Change the reporting deadline from November 1, 2003 to May 1, 2004.

 

GGG/yr