NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used for other purposes.

 

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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

SPONSOR:

McSorley

 

DATE TYPED:

03/17/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

UNM Special Projects

 

SB

256/aSEC

 

 

ANALYST:

Williams

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$3,843.1

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to HB 476

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Department of Health (DOH)

Health Policy Commission

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of SEC Amendment

 

The Senate Education Committee amendment to Senate Bill 256 adds a recurring general fund appropriation of $100.0 for the Department of Philosophy at the University of New Mexico.

 

CHE notes this request was not included in the list of twelve priority projects submitted by UNM for CHE review.

 

     Synopsis of Original Bill

 

Senate Bill 256 appropriates a total of $3,743.1 from the General Fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for the purpose of funding various health and human services-related special projects.  Specifically, the projects and associated funding are:

 

School of Medicine Specialty Education                        $1,500.0

To hire faculty specialists to expand teaching, provide clinical services and conduct diabetes, gastrointestinal and liver research

 

            Carrie Tingley Crippled Children’s Hospital                   $   500.0

To address revenue shortfalls due to Medicaid managed care and to generally increase funding

 

            University of New Mexico Hospital                               $   700.0

                        To provide reimbursement for services to non-Bernalillo county indigents

 

            School of Medicine Pediatric Pulmonary                       $   372.7

                        To increase staff

 

            School of Medicine Pediatric Oncology             $   326.0

                        To increase staff

 

            Office of State Medical Investigator                              $   344.4

                        To increase staff

 

     Significant Issues

 

DOH notes the importance of addressing diabetes due to high rates of the disease in the state.

 

DOH notes many children receiving services from Carrie Tingley Hospital are unable to access EPSDT or Medicaid waiver services due to financial eligibility criteria and/or wait issues.  Further, DOH notes Carrie Tingley Hospital is operating with a budget deficit.

 

With respect to indigent patient care, DOH notes UNM Hospital is the state’s only tertiary care provider as well as the only trauma and burn center, and notes various services are provided to indigent individuals throughout the state.

 

DOH notes the pediatric pulmonary program provides the only source of board certified pediatric pulmonologists in the state, and provides local services and education through outreach clinics jointly with DOH Children’s Medical Services.  DOH notes the escalation of the number of children with asthma and other chronic lung conditions. 

 

DOH notes increased funding for pediatric oncology would aid in UNM achieving National Cancer Institute designation as a comprehensive cancer center and would assist in offering state-of-the-art care.

 

DOH notes the number of cases of “sudden, unexplained and injury-related deaths” investigated by the Office of the Medical Investigator is rising, along with documentation requirements for law enforcement and litigation. 

 

This is a Legislative Health and Human Services-sponsored bill.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $3,743.1 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY04 shall revert to the General Fund. 

 

The LFC budget recommendation for FY04 includes a flat general fund recommendation for UNM Cancer Center, Carrie Tingley Hospital and the Office of Medical Investigator, along with a five percent decrease in general fund for pediatric oncology and pediatric pulmonary programs. 

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

DOH notes the bill is consistent with its strategic plan.

 

AW/yr