SENATE MEMORIAL 2

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics and Craig W. Brandt

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY TO SUBMIT A STATE PLAN AMENDMENT TO CREATE A PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE BENEFIT UNDER MEDICAID THAT ALLOWS CONCURRENT CURATIVE CARE.

     WHEREAS, children in New Mexico with serious, complex or life-limiting medical conditions often experience repeated hospitalizations, emergency room visits and prolonged suffering that could be alleviated through pediatric palliative care; and

     WHEREAS, pediatric palliative care provides comprehensive, family-centered services focused on pain and symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual support and care coordination, which can be delivered concurrently with curative treatment; and

     WHEREAS, because pediatric hospice care under current medicaid rules is limited to children with a terminal prognosis of six months or less and often carries a stigma associated with end-of-life care, many families decline these services even when their child would benefit from supportive care; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico medicaid managed care program currently lacks a pediatric palliative care benefit, preventing access to supportive services that are available in other states through approved medicaid state plan amendments; and

     WHEREAS, expanding access to pediatric hospice services and ensuring that hospice programs have the clinical and financial support needed to care for children will complement the development of a pediatric palliative care benefit and ensure a full continuum of care for families; and

     WHEREAS, a 2024 proposal by the university of New Mexico center for health policy, developed in collaboration with the medical assistance division of the health care authority, outlined a feasible model for a medicaid pediatric palliative care benefit, including eligibility criteria, interdisciplinary team standards, tiered per-member-per-month payments and measurable quality outcomes; and

     WHEREAS, establishing a medicaid pediatric palliative care benefit has been shown in other states to improve quality of life, reduce family stress, decrease avoidable hospital utilization and generate net savings for medicaid programs;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the health care authority be requested to develop and submit to the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services a state plan amendment creating a pediatric palliative care benefit that:

          A. provides coordinated, interdisciplinary and family-centered care to children with serious, complex or life-limiting illnesses;

          B. allows concurrent curative and palliative treatments without requiring a hospice election;

          C. includes pain and symptom management, psychosocial and emotional support, care coordination and twenty-four-hour nurse consultation services; and

          D. requires the use of quality and performance measures consistent with nationally recognized palliative care standards; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care authority be requested to consult with the New Mexico association for home and hospice care, pediatric care providers, hospice agencies and family advocates in preparing the state plan amendment; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care authority be requested to provide an update on progress toward submission of the state plan amendment to the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee by October 1, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care authority be requested to explore strategies to expand access to pediatric hospice care and to ensure adequate provider supports, including reimbursement and training, to deliver high-quality hospice services for children to strengthen the continuum of care for seriously ill children and their families; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of health care authority, the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee.

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