SENATE BILL 9

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE RURAL PRIMARY HEALTH CARE ACT TO PROVIDE FOR FUNDING OF ELIGIBLE CLINICAL PROGRAMS, ELIGIBLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ELIGIBLE WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE STATE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 24-1A-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, Chapter 295, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "24-1A-2. PURPOSE OF ACT.--The purpose of the Rural Primary Health Care Act is to [recruit] better serve the health needs of the public by:

          A. developing evidence-based training models and training through eligible workforce development programs;

          B. recruiting and [retain] retaining health care personnel through eligible workforce recruitment programs; and [assist]

          C. assisting in the provision of primary health care services through eligible clinical programs in underserved areas of the state [in order to better serve the health needs of the public]."

     SECTION 2. Section 24-1A-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, Chapter 295, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

     "24-1A-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Rural Primary Health Care Act:

          A. ["health care underserved areas" means a geographic area in which it has been determined by the department of health, through the use of indices and other standards set by the department, that sufficient primary health care is not being provided to the citizens of that area] "department" means the department of health;

          B. "eligible clinical programs" means nonprofit community-based entities that provide or commit to provide primary health care services for residents of health care underserved areas and includes rural health facilities and those serving primarily low-income populations;

          [C. "department" means the department of health; and

          D. "primary health care" means the first level of basic or general health care for an individual's health needs, including diagnostic and treatment services;]

          C. "eligible workforce development programs" means public or private nonprofit organizations with a minimum of five years of experience in providing comprehensive, community-based health career training programs working with public school students, undergraduates and graduates to encourage and provide specific programming to support rural and underserved populations entering health careers, including residency program development;

          D. "eligible workforce recruitment programs" means public or private nonprofit organizations with a minimum of five years of experience in providing health care personnel recruitment and retention programming in health care underserved areas;

          E. "health care underserved area" means a geographic area in which it has been determined by the department, through the use of indices and other standards set by the department, that sufficient primary health care is not being provided to the residents of that area; and

          F. "primary health care" means the first level of basic or general health care for an individual's health needs, including diagnostic and treatment services."

     SECTION 3. Section 24-1A-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, Chapter 295, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

     "24-1A-4. RULES [AND REGULATIONS].--Subject to the State Rules Act, the department shall adopt rules [and regulations] for the development of evidence-based models for training and recruiting and rules for training, recruiting and retaining health care personnel in health care underserved areas [and]. The department shall establish [a formula] formulas for distribution of financial assistance to eligible clinical programs, [which] to eligible workforce development programs and to eligible workforce recruitment programs. The funding formula for all three categories of programs shall take into account the relative needs of applicants for assistance; provided that funds [may] distributed to these programs shall not be expended for land or facility acquisition or debt amortization; and further provided that a local match of ten percent shall be required from each [local recipient] eligible clinical program, eligible workforce development program and eligible workforce recruitment program for each request for assistance."

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