SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 2

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Michael Padilla

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE EXTENSION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES PROGRAM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER AND TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THAT PROGRAM.

 

     WHEREAS, the extension for community healthcare outcomes program, known as "Project ECHO", is an educational telementoring network at the university of New Mexico health sciences center that uses video conferencing and case-based learning to amplify the knowledge and self-efficacy of physicians in rural and urban underserved New Mexico communities; and

     WHEREAS, the program's physicians specialize in treating epidemic conditions, such as hepatitis, opioid use disorder, diabetes, HIV and mental illness; and

     WHEREAS, the program now has many nonmedical programs that address topics including education, child abuse, first responders and crisis intervention; and

     WHEREAS, the program provides knowledge to physicians on issues that plague rural and underserved communities; and

     WHEREAS, the center for health care strategies reports that despite receiving state, local and private funding, the extension for community healthcare outcomes program receives no continuous federal funding; and

     WHEREAS, rural New Mexico areas experience magnified health issues due to lack of access to care; and

     WHEREAS, the department of health reports that substance abuse and untreated mental illness are factors that contribute to poorer health outcomes in rural communities; and

     WHEREAS, programs that benefit underserved communities, such as the extension for community healthcare outcomes program, must receive sufficient funding to continue to address health disparities in rural communities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of human services be requested to convene a task force to study the contributions of the extension for community healthcare outcomes program in New Mexico, to determine other health disparities that the program could address and to identify other sources of funding for the program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of representatives from the human services department, the department of health, the corrections department, the public education department, the early childhood education and care department and the university of New Mexico health sciences center, including representatives from the extension for community healthcare outcomes program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2020; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services, the board of regents of the university of New Mexico and the chair of the legislative health and human services committee.

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