SM 2 — PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE MEDICAID BENEFIT

SENATEA MEMORIAL 2REQUESTING 57THTHE LEGISLATURE-HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY TO SUBMIT A STATE OFPLAN NEWMEXICOAMENDMENT -TO SECONDCREATE SESSION,A 2026PEDIATRIC INTRODUCEDPALLIATIVE BYCARE ElizabethBENEFIT "Liz"UNDER StefanicsMEDICAID andTHAT CraigALLOWS W.CONCURRENT CURATIVE CARE.

Brandt6 andWHEREAS, Petechildren Camposin andNew NicoleMexico Tobiassenwith 7serious, 9complex Aor MEMORIALlife-limiting REQUESTINGmedical THEconditions HEALTHoften CAREexperience AUTHORITYrepeated TOhospitalizations, SUBMITemergency Aroom STATEvisits PLANand AMENDMENTprolonged TOsuffering CREATEthat Acould PEDIATRICbe PALLIATIVEalleviated CAREthrough BENEFITpediatric UNDERpalliative MEDICAIDcare; THAT ALLOWS CONCURRENT CURATIVE CARE.

15and WHEREAS, childrenpediatric inpalliative Newcare Mexicoprovides withcomprehensive, serious,family-centered complexservices orfocused life-limitingon medicalpain conditionsand oftensymptom experiencemanagement, repeatedpsychosocial eand tspiritual 17support hospitalizations, emergency room visits and prolongedcare sufferingcoordination, wwhich lcan n d 18 that could be alleviateddelivered throughconcurrently pediatricwith palliativecurative care;treatment;

and = = 19 a l WHEREAS, because pediatric palliativehospice care providesunder comprehensive,current imedicaid arules eis rlimited 20to family-centeredchildren serviceswith focused on pain and symptom a tterminal mprognosis mof 21six management,months psychosocialor less and spiritualoften supportcarries anda carestigma dassociated rwith eend-of-life 22care, coordination,many whichfamilies candecline bethese deliveredservices concurrentlyeven withwhen curativetheir cchild ewould sbenefit kfrom 23supportive treatment;care;

and e a n b 24 WHEREAS, becausethe pediatricNew hospiceMexico care under current u [ medicaid rulesmanaged iscare limitedprogram tocurrently childrenlacks with a terminalpediatric prognosispalliative .232615.2care ofbenefit, sixpreventing monthsaccess orto lesssupportive andservices oftenthat carriesare aavailable stigmain associatedother withstates end-of-lifethrough care,approved manymedicaid familiesstate declineplan theseSM services2 evenPage when1 theiramendments; child would benefit from supportive care;

and WHEREAS, the New Mexico medicaid managed care program currently lacks a pediatric palliative care benefit, preventing access to supportive services that are available in other states through approved medicaid state plan amendments;

and WHEREAS, a 2024 proposal by the university of New Mexico center for health policy, developed in collaboration with the medical assistance division of the health care authority, outlined a feasible model for a medicaid pediatric palliative e t 17 care benefit, including eligibility criteria, interdisciplinary w l n d 18 team standards, tiered per-member-per-month payments and = = 19 a l measurable quality outcomes;

and i a e r 20 WHEREAS, establishing a medicaid pediatric palliative care a t m m 21 benefit has been shown in other states to improve quality of d r e 22 life, reduce family stress, decrease avoidable hospital c e s k 23 utilization and generate net savings for medicaid programs;

e a n b 24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE u [ OF NEW MEXICO that the health care authority be requested to .232615.2 - 2 - develop and submit to the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services a state plan amendment creating a pediatric palliative care benefit that:

provides coordinated, interdisciplinary and family-centered care to children with serious, complex or life-SM limiting2 Page 2 life-limiting illnesses;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care authority be requested to consult with the New Mexico association for home e t 17 and hospice care, pediatric care providers, hospice agencies w l n d 18 and family advocates in preparing the state plan amendment;

and = = 19 a l BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care authority be i a e r 20 requested to provide an update on progress toward submission of a t m m 21 the state plan amendment to the legislative health and human d r e 22 services committee and the legislative finance committee by c e s k 23 October 1, 2026;

and e a n b 24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care authority be u [ requested to explore strategies to expand access to pediatric .232615.2 - 3 - hospice care and to ensure adequate provider supports, including reimbursement and training, to deliver high-quality hospice services for children to strengthen the continuum of care for seriously ill children and their families;

and SM 2 Page 3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of health care authority, the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee.

-SM 42 -Page 114 136 158 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 [ .232615.2