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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING A STUDY OF OPTIONS FOR SECURING ADDITIONAL FEDERAL

FUNDING FOR UNCOMPENSATED INDIGENT PATIENT CARE IN NEW MEXICO

HOSPITALS.

WHEREAS, New Mexico hospitals bear a substantial

financial burden in providing uncompensated care to indigents;

and

WHEREAS, adequate and equitable funding of hospitals is

of critical importance to all New Mexicans; and

WHEREAS, increased federal assistance in funding

hospitals would relieve the burden that New Mexico hospitals

bear in providing uncompensated care to indigent persons; and

WHEREAS, increased federal assistance in funding

hospitals would also relieve the disproportionate burden that

New Mexico hospitals bear in providing care to illegal aliens

by virtue of being a border state; and

WHEREAS, increased federal funding for uncompensated

care is critical at a time, such as this one, when uninsured

patients often receive care in the state's hospital emergency

rooms and hospitals, and the hospitals, in turn, request

appropriations to offset the cost of providing care to those

who cannot or will not pay; and

WHEREAS, the current funding of the university of New

Mexico hospitals is inequitable, in that funding comes from a

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mill levy on Bernalillo county property owners but the

hospitals serve indigent patients from throughout the state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico

health policy commission be requested to convene a task force

to study hospital funding; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force comprise nine

members appointed by the executive branch, including the

medicaid director or the medicaid director's designee, a

representative from the university of New Mexico hospitals, a

member from the New Mexico health policy commission and

members with expertise in medicaid funding and hospital

funding; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force study options

for securing additional federal funding for uncompensated

indigent patient care in New Mexico hospitals, including the

option of requesting an expansion of the existing federal

waiver for the state coverage insurance program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force present

recommendations and conclusions to the appropriate interim

legislative committees no later than December 1, 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor, the executive director of the New

Mexico health policy commission, the secretary of human

services, the secretary of health and each county indigent

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hospital and county health care board.