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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB84

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Agency on Aging

Department of Health

Human Services Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

The bill appropriates $50.0 to the State Agency on Aging (SAOA) to provide in-home and residential adult daycare services in the unincorporated area of Bernalillo county.

Significant Issues

The NM Medicaid program offers personal care services throughout the state to disabled and elderly individuals who meet a nursing facility level of care and who are currently on Medicaid.

The Human Services Department indicates the State Agency on Aging services should be provided to those low-income persons who do not qualify for the Medicaid personal care option or for other home and community-based options available under the Medicaid program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The bill appropriates $50.0 in general fund in FY01 to SAOA.

SAOA indicates this funding request was not reviewed as part of the SAOA's process and is not included in the Aging Network's expansion request.

The bill does not specify if these funds should be used to leverage federal Medicaid funds.

The Department of Health indicates the services proposed in this bill are already provided through the Human Services Department under its Medicaid program.

Additionally, the Department of Health indicates leveraging the $50.0 appropriation contained in the bill to match Medicaid waiver personal care funds would purchase about 3,700 hours of services. If individuals received 250 hours per year of in-home personal care, this funding could serve about 15 individuals.

DOH stresses a $50.0 appropriation to one part of the state serves to further fragment the long-term care delivery system that is needed statewide.

RELATIONSHIP

This bill relates to HB84 which also provides $50.0 for home and community-based services in the south valley of Bernalillo county.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The bill does not specify the number of people who could be served and if the funds would be used to leverage Medicaid revenue.

The Human Services Department suggests an amendment to add language that states that the low-income persons receiving services under the provisions of the bill must be ineligible for Medicaid personal care services or other Medicaid home and community-based services.

RAE/njw