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

SPONSOR Papen

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/07/07

03/15/07 HB

SHORT TITLE Expand Telehealth Providers & Sites

SB 456/aHHGAC

ANALYST Geisler

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI.

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates: HB 427

Relates to: multiple bills

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HHGAC Amendments

The House Health and Government Affairs Committee amendments to Senate Bill 456 adds

licensed athletic trainer to the list of health care providers in the Telehealth Act. Senate Bill 456

and House Bill 427 are now equivalent.

Synopsis of Original Bill

Senate Bill 456 proposes amendments to the New Mexico Telehealth Act (NMTA) that include:

•

Clarification of “medical care" to include general health, behavioral health and oral health;

•

Clarification of the NMTA purpose to provide telehealth services in a manner that provides

efficient and effective access to quality health services. Telehealth services include

consultations, direct patient care and education for health care professionals, support

personnel, students, families, patients and other consumers of health care services;

•

Adding licensed independent social worker, licensed counselor, and community health

representative to the definition of health care provider;

Senate Bill 456/aHHGAC – Page

2

•

Adding a federally qualified health center and a community health center to the definition of

originating site; and

•

Clarification of language to encourage the use and coverage of telehealth by health insurers,

health maintenance organizations, managed care organizations, third-party payors and the

State’s Medical Assistance Program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

None noted.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DOH notes that the proposed clarification in SB 456 of “medical care" to include behavioral

health and oral health reflects needed emphasis on the importance of providing access to

behavioral health and oral health services in rural areas of the state.

The proposed addition of social workers, counselors and community health representatives to the

definition of health care provider appropriately reflects the diversity of professionals involved in

providing for the health care needs of rural residents.

The proposed addition of federally qualified health centers and community health centers as

originating sites reflects the role these centers play in meeting the health care needs of rural

residents. In many rural communities these centers may be the only accessible avenue for

receiving health care.

DUPLICATION AND RELATIONSHIP

SB 456 is duplicated by HB 427. SB 456 relates to HB 429/SB 180 which propose an

appropriation of $600,000 to the DOH for Telehealth Programs and HB 173, which would

appropriate $150,000 to the University of New Mexico for telehealth consultation. HB 871

provides $500 thousand to DOH to coordinate and assist in implementation of telemedicine

programs and projects throughout the state through contracting with a qualified non-profit

TECHNICAL ISSUES

DOH notes that the Act defines a “health care professional" as a person licensed to provide

health care. SB 456 seeks to add “(22) a community health representative" to the list of licensed

health care professionals. “Community health representatives" may or may not be licensed and

if not licensed, would not fit the definition as written.

GG/mt