HOUSE MEMORIAL 12

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

INTRODUCED BY

Charlotte Little and Tara Jaramillo and Cristina Paraj n and Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson and Pamelya Herndon

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

ACKNOWLEDGING ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS FACED BY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND CALLING FOR A STUDY TO EXAMINE THESE BURDENS AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO EXPAND THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE IN NEW MEXICO.

 

     WHEREAS, mental health care and substance use disorder treatment are included in the field of behavioral health care; and

     WHEREAS, the demand for behavioral health care has significantly increased in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is experiencing a statewide shortage of behavioral health care providers; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico residents seeking behavioral health care struggle to find providers with availability and face long wait times and limited service options; and

     WHEREAS, behavioral health care providers who practice in New Mexico report facing disproportionate administrative burdens, including:

          A. cumbersome licensing and credentialing processes;

          B. conflicting and inconsistent demands from regulatory authorities;

          C. frequent and redundant demands to submit documents, reports and data;

          D. duplicative site visits and service reviews by multiple state agencies, regulatory and licensing authorities and managed care organizations;

          E. unnecessary requirements to carry out administrative functions that could be managed by administrative staff;

          F. avoidable barriers that hinder the timely provision of critical and lifesaving medication and other treatment to patients and clients; and

          G. extraordinary delays in compensation for rendered services from managed care organizations and state agencies; and

     WHEREAS, these administrative burdens are generally unfunded and create financial vulnerabilities for behavioral health care providers; and

     WHEREAS, these administrative burdens also limit behavioral health care providers' ability to treat patients and clients; and

     WHEREAS, these administrative burdens do not improve behavioral health care services; and

     WHEREAS, these administrative burdens are unique to behavioral health care providers in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative be requested to partner with statewide associations that represent behavioral health care providers to study the administrative burdens behavioral health care providers face in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this study specifically examine the practices of the:

          A. health care authority department;

          B. behavioral health services division of the health care authority department;

          C. department of health;

          D. children, youth and families department; and

          E. regulation and licensing department and applicable licensing boards; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that by November 1, 2024, the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislative health and human services committee regarding meaningful ways to address the administrative burdens faced by behavioral health care providers and how to substantially expand and support the behavioral health care workforce in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of health care authority and the legislative health and human services committee.

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