SENATE MEMORIAL 30

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON DISABILITY TO CONDUCT A STUDY THAT EVALUATES THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING HEALTH COVERAGE TO ALL BRAIN INJURY PATIENTS AND THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A BRAIN INJURY REGISTRY THAT TRACKS BRAIN INJURY STATISTICS ACROSS NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, approximately two million people a year are treated in emergency rooms across the country for brain injuries; and

     WHEREAS, there are many causes of brain injuries, including trauma to the brain, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, anoxic injury after cardiac arrest or drug overdose, severe brain infection, brain tumors and neurotoxic injury; and

     WHEREAS, there are over one hundred thousand adult New Mexicans who are in need of ongoing treatment for their brain injuries; and

     WHEREAS, traumatic brain injuries kill more people in New Mexico each year than opioid overdoses; and

     WHEREAS, those who survive brain injuries are at greater risk of developing dementia and behavioral health issues; and

     WHEREAS, the health care system in most of New Mexico has little to no capacity to appropriately identify and treat people living with brain injuries; and

     WHEREAS, providing and funding adequate coverage for brain injury services and supports creates new jobs and business opportunities, while allowing individuals with brain injuries to remain in New Mexico rather than being forced to seek care out of state; and

     WHEREAS, several states have developed health coverage legislation or billing codes for proper treatment and coverage for brain injury services and supports without significantly raising premium rates for the general public; and

     WHEREAS, currently, health coverage laws in New Mexico do not require the provision of adequate supports and services for individuals living with brain injuries; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico needs to break the cycle of violence, poverty, incarceration, institutional care, isolation, overburdened support systems, substandard living conditions and homelessness that has too often been the fate of individuals living with brain injuries;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor's commission on disability be requested to conduct a study on the feasibility of:

          A. requiring health insurance coverage to provide a continuum of health care, therapeutic services and job development services that individuals living with brain injuries and related conditions require for recovery and maximum independence; and

          B. establishing a brain injury registry to track the occurrence, functional outcome and effectiveness of brain injury treatment; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor's commission on disability consult with representatives of the office of superintendent of insurance, the human services department, the department of health, the brain injury alliance of New Mexico, the university of New Mexico department of psychology clinic, the risk management division of the general services department, the retiree health care authority, the public school insurance authority, the Albuquerque public school district and the United States department of health and human services to complete the feasibility studies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor's commission on disability be requested to report findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee by November 1, 2023; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the chair of the governor's commission on disability, the chair and vice chair of the legislative health and human services committee, the chair and vice chair of the legislative finance committee, the United States secretary of health and human services, the superintendent of insurance, the brain injury alliance of New Mexico, the university of New Mexico department of psychology clinic, the director of the risk management division of the general services department, the director of the retiree health care authority, the director of the public school insurance authority, the secretary of public education and the superintendent of the Albuquerque public school district.

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