SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 1

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Dede Feldman and Danice Picraux

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF INSURANCE OF THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION TO CONVENE A HEALTH CARE REFORM WORKING GROUP TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE HEALTH CARE REFORM MEASURES.

     WHEREAS, the United States congress is poised to pass health care reform; and

     WHEREAS, all of the proposed federal health care reform legislation calls for some degree of action by the states; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has for many years been a leader in venturing forward with incremental health care reform measures; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico should be poised to maximize any federal assistance in implementing and supplementing health care reform measures in the state; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has reaped many benefits as the result of having been one of the states to make quickest use of federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico would likely benefit greatly if it were prepared to show the same kind of initiative in implementing its role in the nationwide health care reform effort as it has in making use of the opportunities afforded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the superintendent of insurance of the public regulation commission be requested to convene a health care reform working group with membership drawn from the department of health, the human services department, the legislative finance committee, the leadership of the legislative health and human services committee, the insurance division of the public regulation commission, the New Mexico medical insurance pool and the New Mexico health insurance alliance; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the leadership of each house of the legislature appoint the legislative members of the working group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group meet monthly from March through September 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group receive staff assistance from state agencies, the legislative finance committee and the legislative council service as appropriate to carry out the work of the health care reform working group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group receive input and recommendations from the public and from advisory groups for consideration and that the health care reform working group present to the governor and the legislature recommendations and proposed action steps for administrative, legislative, regulatory, operational and financial initiatives necessary to implement and supplement federal health care reform; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group make recommendations regarding the creation of any exchanges or other entities designated in the federal legislation; the creation of any other entities the health care reform working group considers necessary to supplement the federal reforms; whatever changes in state regulations are necessary to reconcile differences or conflicts between federal and New Mexico insurance regulations; state strategies to get access to federal money available for health care work force development, medicaid, community clinics, addressing health care disparities and health care information systems; any restructuring of medical assistance programs to maximize federal funds; and other health-related issues; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group receive recommendations from consumers; advocates; licensed health care providers; health insurers; payers, including employers and federal and state agencies; Native American nations, tribes and pueblos; and other interested parties as it deems necessary; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group present its recommendations to the governor, the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee by October 1, 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor; the chairs of the New Mexico health policy commission, the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee; the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council; the superintendent of insurance; the secretary of human services; and the secretary of health.

- 4 -