SM 30 — HEALTH COVERAGE FOR BRAIN INJURIES

SENATE MEMORIAL 30 56TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEWMEXICO - FIRST SESSION 2023 INTRODUCED BY Gerald Ortiz y Pino 6 8 10 A MEMORIAL REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON DISABILITY TO CONDUCT A STUDY THAT EVALUATES THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING HEALTH COVERAGE TO ALL BRAIN INJURY PATIENTS AND THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A BRAIN INJURY REGISTRY THAT TRACKS BRAIN INJURY STATISTICS ACROSS NEW MEXICO.

e8 t 17 WHEREAS, approximately two million people a year are w l n d 18 treated in emergency rooms across the country for brain = = 19 a l injuries;

and i a e r 20 WHEREAS, there are many causes of brain injuries, a t m m 21 including trauma to the brain, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, d r e 22 anoxic injury after cardiac arrest or drug overdose, severe c e s k 23 brain infection, brain tumors and neurotoxic injury;

and e a n b 24 WHEREAS, there are over one hundred thousand adult New u [ Mexicans who are in need of ongoing treatment for their brain .223708.2 injuries;

and SM 30 Page 1 WHEREAS, providing and funding adequate coverage for brain injury services and supports creates new jobs and business opportunities, while allowing individuals with brain injuries to remain in New Mexico rather than being forced to seek care out of state;

and WHEREAS, several states have developed health coverage legislation or billing codes for proper treatment and coverage for brain injury services and supports without significantly e t 17 raising premium rates for the general public;

and w l n d 18 WHEREAS, currently, health coverage laws in New Mexico do = = 19 a l not require the provision of adequate supports and services for i a e r 20 individuals living with brain injuries;

and a t m m 21 WHEREAS, New Mexico needs to break the cycle of violence, d r e 22 poverty, incarceration, institutional care, isolation, c e s k 23 overburdened support systems, substandard living conditions and e a n b 24 homelessness that has too often been the fate of individuals u [ living with brain injuries;

.223708.2 - 2 - NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor's commission on disability be requested to conduct a study on the feasibility of:

requiring health insurance coverage to provide a continuum of health care, therapeutic services and job development services that individuals living with brain SM 30 Page 2 injuries and related conditions require for recovery and maximum independence;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor's commission on disability consult with representatives of the office of superintendent of insurance, the human services department, the department of health, the brain injury alliance of New Mexico, the university of New Mexico department of psychology clinic, e t 17 the risk management division of the general services w l n d 18 department, the retiree health care authority, the public = = 19 a l school insurance authority, the Albuquerque public school i a e r 20 district and the United States department of health and human a t m m 21 services to complete the feasibility studies;

and d r e 22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor's commission on c e s k 23 disability be requested to report findings and recommendations e a n b 24 to the legislative health and human services committee and the u [ legislative finance committee by November 1, 2023;

and .223708.2 - 3 - BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the chair of the governor's commission on disability, the chair and vice chair of the legislative health and human services committee, the chair SM 30 Page 3 and vice chair of the legislative finance committee, the United States secretary of health and human services, the superintendent of insurance, the brain injury alliance of New Mexico, the university of New Mexico department of psychology clinic, the director of the risk management division of the general services department, the director of the retiree health care authority, the director of the public school insurance authority, the secretary of public education and the superintendent of the Albuquerque public school district.

-SM 430 -Page 164 e25 t 17 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .223708.2