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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Grubesic
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
02/26/07
HB
SHORT TITLE Move Health Policy Commission
SB 1159
ANALYST Geisler
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)
FY07
FY08
FY09 3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
Total
.01,
Minimal
Recurring General
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplication: HB 764
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Health Policy Commission (HPC)
Department of Health (DOH)
Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 1159 proposes to move the New Mexico Health Policy Commission (HPC), currently
administratively attached to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), to the New
Mexico Department of Health (DOH) by creating an Office of Policy and Multicultural Health
(OPMH) within DOH. SB 1159 proposes to move the HPC staff to DOH; replace the
commission with an advisory board, and provide for transfers of functions, personnel, property,
contracts and statutory references.
In addition, SB 1159 adds the Aging and Long-Term Services Department and the Indian Affairs
Department to the membership of the Interagency Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
SB 1159 eliminates the budget of the HPC and transfers it to DOH. Elimination of the HPC
would provide some small savings by elimination of duplicative overhead costs.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 1159 – Page
2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Abolishing the Health Policy Commission and moving its functions to a cabinet agency would
appear to have the effect of eliminating an independent source of health related research and
information for policymakers.
According to DFA, the bill aims to reduce the duplication and streamline executive functions by
creating a single state health policy entity. Efficiencies are likely to result from the proposed
consolidation since DOH currently leads the state on many health policy issues and is one of the
major users of health data currently collected by HPC.
DOH provides
:
SB 1159 is a bill introduced on behalf of the governor.
SB 1159 will create a single state health policy entity within DOH, providing for an increased
ability to coordinate efforts, forward recommendations and synthesize policy. DOH and HPC
are currently required by statute to co-author the State’s Comprehensive Strategic Health Plan.
The integration of the HPC into DOH will result in increased efficiency related to data access,
analysis and timely description and dissemination of prioritized health-related policies and policy
recommendations. DOH possesses extensive expertise in the collection, analysis, and
dissemination of data and information. The health information system (HIS) maintained by the
HPC (including the Hospitalization Inpatient Discharge Data (HIDD), Geographic Data Access
System (GADS), Health Facility Charity Care and Capital Assets Database) contains crucial data
sources to inform DOH policy and strategic planning. The combination of epidemiological
expertise with HPC data systems will enhance the state’s ability to use health information to
decide, evaluate and implement health initiatives. For example, the combination of resources can
provide analysis of hospitalization and cost related to immunization, attempted suicide,
infectious disease, pregnancy, nonfatal injury, and substance use.
The evolution of a 9 member commission appointed by the Governor to an advisory board
consisting of four members appointed by the Governor, two members appointed by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives and two members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of
the Senate provides increased linkages among the Executive and Legislative branches of
government in the development and evaluation of health policy.
The Board will independently review health data and make recommendations related to health
policy to DOH. Annual reporting to the Legislative Finance Committee and the interim Health
and Human Services Committee on policy implementation and progress will be required.
HPC provides
:
The statute for the HPC (§ 9-7-11.1(C). NMSA 1978) states the New Mexico health policy
commission is to provide a forum for the discussion of complex and controversial health policy
and planning issues and for the creative exploration of ideas, issues and problems surrounding
health policy and planning, including the interrelations with education, the environment and
economic well-being.
pg_0003
Senate Bill 1159 – Page
3
As such, the commission has provided independent research analyzing all sides of policy issues
and initiatives whose objective research and information could be viewed as factual. Proposed
language in SB 1159 is silent with respect to being a “forum for the discussion of complex and
controversial health policy and planning issues" and to “serve as a neutral forum for the creative
and collaborative exploration of solutions to health information needs" as is the function of the
HPC today.
This proposed change in language limits the Health Policy Commission changing the scope to an
advisory board in comparison to a commission that monitors the implementation of state’s
health policy §9-7-11.2E NMSA 1978 and has investigatory powers §24-14A-4.2 NMSA 1978.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
HPC notes that the transition to the Department of Health is one which will require planning and
potentially additional fiscal resources, especially if the information systems activities associated
with the Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data base is moved. It is not clear from a statutory review
what the legal implications could be as it relates to the HIS (Health Information Systems) ACT
and the HIDD data base. Despite the fact that the “Commissioners" role would become advisory
in nature, the advantage to the state is the opportunity financially, for the agency under DOH, to
meets its many statutory duties which it is strained to meet today due to budget considerations.
DUPLICATION
SB 1159 is duplicated by HB 764.
GG/csd