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

SPONSOR Cordova

DATE TYPED 02/20/05 HB 683

SHORT TITLE Valencia County Nurse Assistant Training

SB

ANALYST Williams

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$150.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to various nursing program bills

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Department of Health (DOH)

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 683 appropriates $150 thousand from the general fund to the board of regents of the

University of New Mexico for the Valencia campus as follows:

•

$100 thousand for tutors and staff to establish learning communities

•

$50 thousand for select students to enroll in certified nurse assistant training and com-

puter graphics and animation training (specifically for tuition and fee assistance, transpor-

tation and other needs)

Significant Issues

The Health Policy Commission (HPC) reports the New Mexico Department of Labor “estimates

the need for an additional 4360 nursing aides between now and 2012. This is an increase of 36%

over the current workforce of 11,990.

House Bill 683 -- Page 2

Valencia County has a need for more nursing personnel now and will likely see the need con-

tinue in the future. In 2002, Valencia County had a rate of 5.17 registered nurses per 1000 popu-

lation compared to the state rate of 7.25 and the national rate of 7.98.The LPN rate was 1.56

compared to a state rate of 1.49 and national rate of 2.49. (Selected Health Professionals GADS

2003 Report-NMHPC).

Nursing assistants are often the first step toward eventual progression to a registered

nurse degree and licensure which would help with the shortage.”

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

DOH notes the bill is consistent with its Strategic Plan:

•

Program Area 1: Prevention and Disease Control, Strategic Direction: Improve the Health

of New Mexicans, Objective 6: Prevent and control chronic disease;

•

Program Area 2: Health Care Delivery, Strategic Direction: Improve access to health ser-

vices, Objective 2: Improve access to health services at agency-funded school-based

health centers and

•

Program Area 6: Los Lunas Community Program and Residential Care Facilities, Strate-

gic Direction: Promote a continuum of high quality community based long-term care op-

tions for eligible persons.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $150 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 would revert to

the general fund.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The project request was not submitted to the CHE as a priority project through the annual fund-

ing request cycle.

The HPC notes: “Nursing assistants perform basic nursing functions and procedures involving

patient care. They work under the supervision of a registered nurse, licensed practical

nurse, or physician. In general, nursing assistants tend to matters related to personal hy-

giene, safety, and nutrition.

The scope of their responsibilities, however, varies considerably, depending on the type

of organization in which they are employed. In nursing homes, for example, nursing as-

sistants tend to be the principal caregivers and may have much greater responsibility than

they might have in a hospital or home clinical setting.

The competency evaluation for certification requires a fee and may be taken after a stu-

dent completes the instructional program and supervised practical training in a laboratory

and clinical setting. Nurse aides currently employed or seeking employment in most clas-

sifications of care facilities located in New Mexico, and who have successfully com-

pleted a nurse aide training, must receive a satisfactory competency certification from the

program. New Mexico offers Certified Nursing Assistant testing through a program

called Nursing Assistant Competency Evaluation Service.

House Bill 683 -- Page 3

Also, nursing assistants have to be placed on the Division of Health Improvement’s nurse

aide registry after undergoing background screening.”

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

Are the programs consistent with the institution’s strategic plan and mission.

2.

How would program success be measured.

ANA/yr