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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Cisneros
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED 01/24/08 HB
SHORT TITLE
Health Security Act
SB 3
ANALYST Hanika Ortiz
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09 FY10
$500.0
Non-Recurring
General Fund
$0.1 (see
narrative)
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
REVENUE (dollars in thousands)
Estimated Revenue
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
FY09
$0.1 (see narrative)
Recurring Health Security
Plan Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Public Regulation Commission/INS (PRC/INS)
Human Services Department/Medical Assistance Division (HSD/MAD)
New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED)
Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)
New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD)
Health Policy Commission (HPC)
Department of Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 3 enacts the Health Security Act to provide a mandatory comprehensive statewide
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Senate Bill 3 – Page
2
health care plan through a combination of public and private financing; control of health care
costs; and, by providing preventative health care for all New Mexicans. The Act outlines
procedures for the implementation of a Health Care Commission of 15 members reflecting the
geographic diversity of the state tasked with establishing the entity for the Health Security Act
by 11/01/09. The commission will have a two-year development period to work with state
agencies and the public; and, collect, review and analyze pertinent health care data to see
whether the plan is financially feasible. The bill requires financing recommendations made by
the LFC be approved by the legislature in 2009 before this plan goes into effect.
The bill excludes active military, military retirees, TRICARE recipients and federal retirees.
Nothing in the Act is to affect coverage pursuant to the federal Employee Retirement Act. Tribes
and plans covered under ERISA may opt to join.
Specific provisions of the bill include:
1.
A 15 member Health Care Commission and its employees;
2.
The adoption of a five year plan by the new commission which will:
a.
emphasize preventive care, health care for rural, underserved areas, and in-
home/community-based alternatives to institutional health care;
b.
negotiate compensation methods for health care providers and health facilities;
c.
establish capital budgets for health care facilities;
d.
negotiate reciprocity agreements with other states;
e.
develop claims and payment procedures;
f.
provide for health care data collection and analysis to improve health care quality
and control health care costs;
g.
appoint a committee governing prescription drugs and medical devices;
h.
study and report on impact of provider professional liability insurance on health
care costs and access to health care;
i.
provide for coverage of most physical, mental and behavioral health care services,
dental services, long- term care, prescription drugs and medical supplies;
j.
report annually to the legislature; and,
k.
become effective contingent upon approval by the 2009 legislature, and if so
approved, be implemented by July 1, 2011.
3.
Granting the commission the authority to:
a.
appoint a health care provider advisory board and a health facility advisory board;
b.
establish health care delivery regions to differentiate fees and capital expense
allocations to encourage health care in rural, underserved areas;
c.
establish a comprehensive claims review procedure;
d.
negotiate payment plans with providers and facilities;
e.
establish a quality improvement program for providers and health facilities ;
f.
negotiate annual operating budgets with health care facilities;
g.
regulate major capital expenditures by health care providers and health care
facilities (with certain exemptions);
h.
establish a consumer, provider and health facility complaint process;
i.
develop standard claims forms and a state-wide computer network for billing
purposes and data collection;
j.
require health care providers and health care facilities to participate in a statewide
computerized system;
k.
develop an annual budget to be within projected annual revenues;
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Senate Bill 3 – Page
3
l.
require health care providers and health care facilities to submit certain reports to
aid the commission in an ongoing evaluation of the Health Security plan; and,
m.
apply for waivers and federal law changes and exemptions allowing the maximum
contribution of federal money to the “Health Security Plan Fund" (see fiscal
implications);
4.
Providing for subrogation rights;
5.
Prohibiting the sale of private health care insurance in New Mexico to any eligible
beneficiary after the date the health care plan is operating, except for supplemental
benefits and certain retiree health care plans;
6.
Establishing a “Health Security Plan Fund" and giving the commission the responsibility
for the collection of premiums from eligible beneficiaries, employers, state and federal
agencies and other entities;
7.
Requiring the Superintendent of Insurance to ensure that workers' compensation and
automobile insurance premiums on insurance policies written in New Mexico reflect a
lower rate to account for the medical payment component to be assumed by the health
security plan;
8.
Requiring educational institutions to provide coverage under the health security plan for
nonresident students;
9.
Requiring the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) to determine financing options for
the health security plan; and
10.
Providing for a transition period for those covered by existing health care plans.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The plan attempts to put most New Mexicans under one risk pool as a way to leverage
purchasing power and simplify the multiple payor system of health insurance coverage; realize
cost savings from the elimination of duplicative administration; and, protect the State and
consumer from rising health care costs. DFA is concerned it still remains unclear how the bill
proposes to generate sufficient revenues for a self-sustaining health insurance program to cover
all New Mexicans.
This bill creates a new Health Security Plan Fund to receive all premiums from eligible
beneficiaries, employers, state and federal agencies, and other state appropriations. In order for
this to occur, the commission will need to apply for waivers and enter into agreements with all
federal health care programs to enable the state to deposit federal payments for health care
services covered by the plan into the health security plan fund; seek amendments to the federal
Employee Retirement Income Security Act to exempt the state from certain provisions to allow
the commission to extend coverage to as many New Mexicans as possible; determine
expenditures of indigent funds; and, seek payment from Medicaid, Medicare and all other
insurance programs for any reimbursable payment provided under the plan.
The bill requires the Legislative Finance Committee develop financing recommendations for the
plan and provide such to the legislature for approval or modification before 12/15/08 for
consideration by the 2009 Legislature. The financing recommendations are expected by the LFC
before the commission’s plan for coverage is known. The LFC is to be guided by benefit
packages and costs of such health care coverage provided to state employees; and, options may
set beneficiary income-based premium payments, sliding scale premium payments and Medicare
credits and employer contributions. There is an appropriation of $500 thousand in the bill
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Senate Bill 3 – Page
4
directed to the LFC for this effort; however, there may be more time needed for the Committee
to complete this great task.
The plan will begin July 1, 2011 if approved by the 2009 Legislature, and during the fiscal year
preceding that date, the commission will become operational with support of appropriations from
the general fund. Beginning in FY12 private insurance will be replaced by the health security
plan for those covered by the plan. PRC/INS reports that the private health insurance industry
currently pays premium taxes and premium tax surcharges which are revenues for the general
fund. Those insurers who collect over $3 billion dollars in premiums pay approximately $120
million in premium taxes and premium tax surcharges. A substantial portion of those premium
taxes could be eliminated.
The Health Coverage for New Mexicans Committee (HCNMC) was created by the Legislature
and the Governor to study three models of universal health coverage. The HCNMC engaged
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. with costing out three different approaches to universal
coverage in New Mexico. One of the models costed by Mathematica was based on the Health
Security Act. Mathematica’s report indicated that a universal coverage plan could be achieved at
a savings in total cost over what we as New Mexicans currently spend on health care. Each of the
reform models promised cost savings, but it remains unclear whether they included real cost
controls.
The appropriation of $500 thousand contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the
General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY09 shall
revert to the General Fund. This bill creates the health security plan fund and provides for
continuing appropriations. The LFC has concerns with including continuing appropriation
language in the statutory provisions for newly created funds, as earmarking reduces the ability of
the legislature to establish spending priorities.
With respect to depositing administrative penalties in the current school fund, the meaning of
“current school fund" is unclear and does not specify why penalties would be deposited into the
school fund versus the state General Fund.
DFA notes that the bill allows for $200 in compensation per member per meeting. The current
rate of per diem for board and commission members is $95.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUE
The bill will effectively subject all existing health care facilities and health care providers in
New Mexico to state control. It will require mandatory participation in the health care plan by
most state residents other than persons covered by federal health plans, military personnel, and
members of Indian tribes covered by federal health plans. It will prohibit the sale of health
insurance in New Mexico for health care that is covered by the health security plan except for
retiree health insurance plans that do not enter into contracts with the health security plan. The
private sector would continue to provide the actual delivery of health care but will be required to
comply with the rules of the commission and provisions of the health care plan.
HSD reports that the commission will need to apply for all applicable federal waivers. Until such
federal waivers are actually approved, the commission will be unable to put into place the
programs/services requiring such waivers, which would impact planning and budget
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Senate Bill 3 – Page
5
considerations.
Section 32 of the bill attempts to address health care costs that are reflected in other types of
liability insurance. PRC/INS reflects that the theory of this section is that, since we have
universal coverage, the premiums for these other liability coverage can be reduced because
additional health coverage won’t be needed. However, nothing in this bill removes an
employer’s liability under the worker’s compensation act. Nor does this bill eliminate liability
created by careless and reckless driving. State law would require the health care commission to
recover damages from parties liable for their actions.
Section 40 confirms that any employer sponsored health insurance plans subject to ERISA are
not required to participate. ERISA's original purpose was to regulate employee pension plans.
However, ERISA also precludes state agencies and governments from regulating self-insured
business insurance plans.
The Commission would establish the state’s health care budget, budgets for health care facilities
and limits rate increases to the increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate. DFA reports
that while this may appear to be a means of controlling health care costs, one potential negative
consequence is a potential disincentive for providers to continue to do business in New Mexico if
the budget established by the commission is not sufficient.
The bill requires the Superintendent of Insurance to ensure that worker’s compensation and
automobile insurance premiums on insurance policies reflect a lower rate to account for the
medical payment component to be assumed by the health security plan.
HSD notes that a pharmaceutical formulary as proposed in the bill will require the commission to
negotiate with manufacturers, which may conflict with the federal Medical Reform of 2004.
It appears that the Commission will be charged with Vital Statistics. It is unclear how this would
impact the existing Vital Statistics Bureau at DOH.
Considering the multiple data collection efforts outlined, it would be good to include the
provision of a committee or advisory group that would be for research and evidence-based
practices for the Health Security Act.
SB 3 requires the state’s colleges and universities to assess students for health insurance through
their fees. This may increase the costs of higher education in New Mexico even though many of
students are dependents of NM state residents who will be covered by their parents’ policy.
Nonresident students apparently may opt out of the fees if they can show proof of out-of-state
coverage.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
Agencies report redistribution on an administrative and staffing level will occur as roles and
responsibilities are repositioned to support the Act.
The bill charges DOH with the responsibility of providing staff to the HCC membership
nominating committee, until a commission is appointed. The act proposes adding the state’s
Medicaid program into its infrastructure, but does not include HSD in its implementation or
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Senate Bill 3 – Page
6
planning.
HSD notes that the multiple data collection efforts might be duplicative of powers and duties of
existing state entities; and, the bill does not outline how existing entities will interact with the
Health Security Act.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
SB 3 duplicates HB 214
HB 62 creates the healthSOLUTIONS New Mexico act, which represents the Governor’s
proposed universal coverage and health reform plan
SB 228 and HB 205 (duplicates) also address universal coverage and contain an individual
mandate.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
The commission may find it difficult to bring in certain insured persons or groups accustomed to
a certain level of benefit coverage if the state’s coverage provided is less.
Socioeconomic disparities exist with respect to access to health care. In 2005, 20.4% of New
Mexicans were without health insurance, compared to 15.9% for the US. According to the
HPC’s Universal Health Coverage – Research on States and Unsolved Issues Report published
in August 2007, various states have addressed universal health care.
Persons eager for insurance reform believe New Mexico’s reliance on private insurers may make
universal coverage unaffordable in today’s market.
88% of small employers in New Mexico employ less than 20 employees; 41% of those do not
offer health insurance. Eight-one percent of the small employers that do not currently provide
coverage cite cost as the primary reason and 67% of uninsured individuals say it is affordability.
ALTERNATIVES
HSD reports the Health Coverage for New Mexicans (HCNMC) was created by the Legislature
to study three models of universal coverage. The HCNMC recommendation to the Governor and
the Legislature was not to accept any one model in its entirety, but to take the best components
of all the modes and create a new plan.
WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL
There will be no new statewide Health Care Commission to oversee a new health care system in
New Mexico through this bill.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
DOH states that the provisions for “standard claims forms" in Section 35 and computer systems
in Section 36 should specify that the HCC must comply with the federal HIPAA rule on
Transactions and Code sets.
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Senate Bill 3 – Page
7
AMENDMENTS
The PRD/INS recommends the following to fix technical issues in the bill:
Page 56, line 9, strike everything after “plan"
Page 56, line 10, strike everything through “legislature"
QUESTIONS
How will licensure operate under the Health Security Act and in what manner will the powers
and duties of current licensing boards and commissions be handled.
SB 3 appears to mandate additional Continuing Medical Education (CME). Is the commission
required to coordinate this with current CMS requirement for New Mexico licensure under the
authority of existing boards and commissions.
AHO/mt