NMDOH FY19-Q1 PROGRESS REPORT

Why Is This Important?

What We Do

The Public Health Division (PHD) fulfills the NMDOH mission by working with individuals, families, communities and partners to improve health, eliminate disparities, respond to health threats, and ensure timely access to quality, culturally competent health care.

Who We Serve

The Public Health Division serves all New Mexicans.   

How We Impact

PHD staff members implement evidence based public health interventions and promote healthy lifestyle choices that reduce the burden of chronic and infectious disease in our communities. Public Health assures access to health care through case management, and through recruitment and retention efforts including the J-1 Visa Program, licensing of midwives and community health workers, tax credits for  rural health providers, and collaboration with rural primary health care providers throughout the state.

Budget

FY19 OPERATING BUDGET: $ 175,593,300

• General Funds: $ 49,775,300
• Other Transfers: $ 14,664,500
• Federal Funds: $ 69,804,400
• Other State Funds: $ 41,349,100

Accomplishments

During the first quarter of FY19, some of PHD’s accomplishments included:

• A critical role in a Blood-Borne infection investigation that centered on persons who received injection related services, including a vampire facial, at a cosmetology spa located in Albuquerque. Services included HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C confidential lab testing and counseling services for clients via Public Health Offices statewide. In addition, Disease Investigation Specialists (DIS) conducted client interviews to reduce new infections and assist with the investigation.   
• For a second year in a row, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP) and Albuquerque Isotopes partnered for "Throw Diabetes a Curve" during the Isotopes home game on August 16th. DPCP and Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (HDSP) staff provided information to fans about the seriousness of both prediabetes and diabetes and promoted the DPCP's diabetes prevention and self-management programs and the Paths to Health NM: Tools for Healthier Living initiative. One hundred thirty-five (135) referrals were collected throughout the night from fans who expressed an interest in wanting to enroll in a diabetes prevention or self-management class, as well as other program's available through Paths to Health NM.
• The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program was recognized for promoting the importance of teaching child development to parents in order to extend breastfeeding duration. The Journal of the United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) published research conducted with the New Mexico WIC Program, which shows how teaching normal infant/child development and behavior to WIC professionals can positively impact breastfeeding duration.
• The Northwest Public Health Region and the New Mexico Medical Reserve Corp provided Emergency Medical Services during the 2018 Senior Olympic State Games. The Games were held July 18 - July 22, 2018 at numerous locations in the Albuquerque Metro Area. New Mexico Senior Olympics provides adults 50+ with opportunities for a healthy active lifestyle. Their mission is to promote physical fitness for seniors statewide by providing year-round opportunities and motivation for adults 50+ to participate in local, state, and national games.  PHD Region staff provided over 66 hours of service at the event.  

What We Do

The Epidemiology and Response Division (ERD) monitors health, provides health information, prevents disease and injury, promotes health and healthy behaviors, responds to public health events, prepares for health emergencies, and provides emergency medical, trauma, vital registration, and sexual assault-related services to New Mexicans.

Who We Serve

ERD serves all New Mexicans, particularly those at risk for injury, disease, and health emergencies, and those in need of emergency medical services, trauma care, birth certificates, and death certificates.

How We Impact

ERD provides services through six bureaus: Vital Records and Health Statistics (BVRHS), Health Emergency Management (BHEM), Emergency Medical Systems (EMS), Environmental Health Epidemiology (EHEB), Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDEB), and Injury and Behavioral Epidemiology (IBEB). In addition, the Community Health Assessment Program (CHAP) operates the online New Mexico Indicator-Based Information System (IBIS) providing data on numerous health-related measures; and the Health Systems Epidemiology Program (HSEP) analyzes and disseminates hospitalization and emergency department data.

VRHS annually registers approximately 26,000 births and 17,000 deaths, and issues over 250,000 birth and death certificates. VRHS also analyzes and distributes data to numerous agencies and organizations to assist them in improving the health of New Mexicans. By working at the state, regional, and local levels through public and private partnerships BHEM enables New Mexicans to prevent, detect, report, respond to, and recover from health-related emergency and disaster incidents. The EMS Bureau administers the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Trauma, and Stroke/STEMI (Heart Attack) programs. EMS assures licensure for over 8,000 New Mexico Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

EHEB conducts surveillance on conditions associated with environmental exposures (e.g. drinking water, air, and soil), provides information to other programs and the public, and implements interventions. IDEB performs surveillance for notifiable infectious diseases and conducts epidemiologic field investigations associated with those diseases, investigating over 10,000 potential cases each year. IDEB and EHEB also provide an on call service, responding to over 5,000 calls annually from healthcare providers, state agencies, educational facilities, the general public, and others seeking advice and recommendations. IBEB analyzes alcohol- and drug-related public health problems; supports substance abuse prevention programs and policy initiatives; provides injury prevention services for infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly; and conducts studies in injury epidemiology. IBEB also conducts the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System annual survey of about 9,000 adults as well as the Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey of about 30,000 mid- and high school students to provide state, county, and school district level data on risk behaviors and resiliency factors.

Budget

FY19 OPERATING BUDGET: $27,106,500

• General Funds: $9,915,700
• Other Transfers: $614,200
• Federal Funds: $15,951,500
• Other State Funds: $625,100

Accomplishments

What We Do

The Scientific Laboratory Division (SLD) provides laboratory analysis and scientific expertise for public health policy development, environment, and toxicology programs in New Mexico (NM). SLD provides timely identification in order to prevent, identify, and respond to threats to public health and safety from emerging and unusual infectious diseases in humans, animals, water, food, and dairy, as well as chemical and radiological hazards in drinking water systems and environmental water, air, and soil. In addition, the laboratory performs drug testing and provides expert witness testimony for forensic investigations of Driving While Intoxicated/Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DWI/DUID) and cause of death from drugs and infectious disease. SLD is the primacy bioterrorism and chemical terrorism response laboratory for the state and provides training for clinical laboratories throughout New Mexico. 

Who We Serve

New Mexico statute dictates that the Scientific Laboratory Division is the primacy laboratory for the New Mexico Department of Health, the New Mexico Environment Department, and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, as well as the testing and regulatory authority for impaired driving testing.

How We Impact

The Scientific Laboratory is New Mexico’s official public health, environmental monitoring, and forensic toxicology laboratory. In the above roles, the Scientific Laboratory Division operates the following programs:

• Infectious disease reference testing laboratory for the New Mexico Department of Health, NM hospitals, and clinical labs;
• Primacy NM regulatory drinking water testing laboratory for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NM Environment Department;
• Regulatory air testing laboratory for NM Environment Department and City of Albuquerque;
• Primacy NM regulatory dairy testing laboratory for the Food and Drug Administration and NM Department of Agriculture;
• Veterinary infectious disease reference testing laboratory for the NM Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Diagnostic Services;
• Food borne infectious disease testing laboratory;
• Certification inspectors for private dairy and dairy testing laboratories for the NM Environment Department and the NM Department of Agriculture;
• DWI/DUID alcohol and drug testing laboratory;
• State toxicology expert witnesses for DWI/DUID criminal cases;
• Certifying authority for NM law enforcement officers for breath alcohol testing;
• Bio- and chemical terrorism response laboratory for New Mexico;
• Disease and drug testing laboratory for the NM Office of the Medical Examiner.

Budget

FY19 OPERATING BUDGET: $ 13,185,000

• General Funds:        $7,578,000
• Other Transfers:      $1,251,400
• Federal Funds:        $2,868,300
• Other State Funds:  $1,487,300

Accomplishments

During the first quarter of FY19, some of SLD’s accomplishments included:

• Successfully reported traffic enforcement statistics to our law enforcement partners.  
• The Toxicology Bureau Chief presented topics of interest at the in-house continuing education series for analytical staff.

What We Do

The Facilities Management Division (FMD) fulfills the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) mission by providing:

• Programs in mental health, substance abuse, long-term care, and physical rehabilitation in both facility and community-based settings;
• Safety net services throughout New Mexico.

Who We Serve

FMD consists of five healthcare facilities and one community program. Most individuals served by NMDOH facilities have either complex medical conditions or psychiatric disorders that manifest in violent behaviors, and private sector providers are either unable or unwilling to serve these complex individuals, many of whom are restricted to NMDOH facilities by court order.

How We Impact

FMD Facility and Community Program staff cares for both New Mexico adult and adolescent residents, who need continuous care 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a year as well as provision of a variety of behavioral health outpatient services.

Budget

FY19 OPERATING BUDGET: $127,817,000

• General Fund: $55,545,500
• General Fund for Fort Bayard Medical Center Lease: $4,050,000
• Inter/Agency Transfers: $4,431,800
• Federal Funds: $5,058,300
• Other State Funds: $58,731,400

Accomplishments

During the first quarter of FY19, some of the Facilities Management Division's accomplishments included:

• LLCP planned and executed a campus beautification project and is currently working with NM Corrections Department and Men's Recovery Program for manpower support.
• NMBHI held training initiatives on topics such as Empowering Treatment with New Research Findings, Suicide Bereavement and Clinician Training, and Behaviours that Challenge our System.
• NMBHI provided classes and activities for staff and patients during health week on topics related to health and wellness.
• NMRC added a 28-day residential Inpatient Social Rehab Program, which will complete the step-down level of care from detox to social rehab and further into Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP).
• NMRC, in coordination with Chaves County 5th Judicial District Court, finalized plans to implement an Adult Drug Court, effective November 1, 2018.
• SATC staff participated in a Children, Youth and Families Children's Behavioral Health Strategic Plan meeting.
• TLH executed a new lease, for a relocation to the Gibson Medical Center, effective January 1, 2019. This will allow TLH to apply for Joint Commission accreditation which will result in improved revenue, and will improve dietary programming, increase inpatient beds and offer a continuum of care expansion.

What We Do

Who We Serve

DDSD is the primary state agency that funds community services and supports for people with disabilities and their families in New Mexico.

How We Impact

DDSD's primary focus is on assisting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in exercising their right to make choices, grow and contribute to their community.

Budget

FY19 OPERATING BUDGET: $168,080,000

• General Funds: $154,710,200
• Other Transfers: $$9,154,000
• Federal Funds: $2,830,800
• Other State Funds: $1,385,000

Accomplishments

In first quarter of FY19, some of DDSD's accomplishments included:

• The Aspiration Risk Management Nurse shared the results of the 2018 Audit of Comprehensive Aspiration Risk Management Plans with provider agencies at Regional.
• Completed contracting with a Statewide consultant for Speech Language Pathology (SLP) services for the DD Wavier.
• Submitted an application for approval of 6.2 nursing continuing education units for Aspiration Risk Management training.
• The Wheelchair and Specialty Seating Clinic had an un-announced Medicare survey and passed without any citations or issues identified.   The Seating Clinic manager has received no citations on both Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and Medicare re-surveys.
• Initiated dialog with the New Mexico Home Care Hospice Association regarding collaboration to strengthen communication and knowledge between Hospice and DD Waiver agencies when persons with I/DD access their Hospice benefit in home and community based services.  
• The Seating Clinic collaborated with therapists from Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) to present a conference for Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and SLP's titled “ Assistive Technology and Mobility: School and Community Interventions”. Over 160 therapists from across the state have registered for the conference, which will be held on October 18 and 19, 2018.  Seating Clinic therapists began this conference over five years ago.  This is the third year of collaboration with APS.
• Functional/business requirements for DDSD’s Client Data Management System developed over the past year using legislative C2 funding and in collaboration with NMDOH/ITSD and HSD have been integrated into an RFP scheduled for release as part of HSD’s HHS 2020 Project. 
• During FY19-Q1, the PASRR (Pre-Admission Screen and Resident Review) unit received and processed 245 Level I Identification Screens and conducted 28 Level II evaluations. PASRR Level II evaluations or waivers ensure individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Mental Illness or a related condition are admitted appropriately to Medicaid Certified Nursing Facilities.

What We Do

The Division of Health Improvement (DHI) plays a critical role on improving the health outcomes and ensuring the safety of New Mexicans. DHI ensures that healthcare facilities, community based Medicaid waiver providers and community support services deliver safe and effective healthcare and community services in accordance with laws, regulations, and standards of practice.

Who We Serve

DHI works closely with key stakeholders to promote and protect the health, safety, and quality of life of New Mexicans. Our stakeholders include executive and legislative policy makers; providers; facilities and contractors; other state, local, and federal government agencies; advocacy groups; professional organizations; provider associations; various task forces and commissions; and the tax paying public at large.

How We Impact

Key DHI enforcement activities include: conducting various health and safety surveys for both facilities and community-based programs; conducting investigations of alleged abuse, neglect, exploitation, death or environmental hazards; and processing over 44,000 caregiver criminal history screenings annually.

Budget

FY19 OPERATING BUDGET: $13,798,500

• General Funds: $5,010,000
• Other Transfers: $4,404,000
• Federal Funds: $2,422,800
• Other State Funds: $1,961,700

Accomplishments

During the first quarter of FY19, some of DHI’s accomplishments included:

• DHI passed the Human Services Department's subrecipient audit for home health and facility survey services.
• DHI met all federal non-long-term care (NLTC) facility survey workload requirements for this survey cycle.
• All NLTC survey staff completed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) End Stage Renal Disease certification training.
• DHI successfully trained and implemented the new CMS long-term care survey process statewide.
• CMS requested DHI to present a “best practice” at nationwide Association of Federal Health Care Surveyors Association conference 2019.
• DHI underwent substantial leadership changes and is restructuring its programing to provide improved customer service and improved survey quality to the residents of New Mexico.
• The DHI Incident Management Bureau (IMB) disengaged from Jackson Objective S1.1.2, “Provide educational material about how to detect ANE.”
• The DHI Quality Management Bureau (QMB) completed 18 trainings for providers and NMDOH Developmental Disabilities Supports Division (DDSD) regional staff on the revised QMB survey process using the new 2018 waiver standards.
• Fully staffed the IMB “Jackson" Individual Quality Review (IQR) team. The IQR Team is conducting individual reviews of the Jackson class members in fulfillment of the Court's Community Practice Review monitoring requirement.
• Processed 11,199 caregiver criminal history screens with an average processing time of one day to complete the background check.
• Received, screened, and processed 4,553 health facility complaints.

What We Do

The Medical Cannabis Program (MCP) was created in 2007 under the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act (the Act). The purpose of this Act is to allow the beneficial use of medical cannabis in a regulated system for alleviating symptoms caused by debilitating medical conditions. New Mexicans with a diagnosed qualifying medical condition are eligible to participate in the Program.

Who We Serve

The Program serves New Mexicans with qualifying medical conditions diagnosed by a health care provider. There are currently 22 qualifying medical conditions:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Cancer
• Crohn’s Disease
• Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C Infection currently receiving antiviral treatment (proof of current anti-viral treatment required)
• HIV/AIDS
• Huntington’s Disease
• Hospice Care
• Inclusion Body Myositis
• Intractable Nausea/Vomiting
• Inflammatory autoimmune-mediated arthritis
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, with (proof of objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity required)
• Painful Peripheral Neuropathy
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Severe Chronic Pain
• Severe Anorexia/Cachexia
• Spasmodic Torticollis (Cervical Dystonia)
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

How We Impact

The Program enables the provision of compassionate care for people that have certain illnesses who prefer to use cannabis to alleviate symptoms related to their diagnosis.

Budget

FY19 OPERATING BUDGET: $3,158,300

• Other State Funds: $0.0

Accomplishments

During the first quarter of FY19, some of MCP’s accomplishments included:

• Added Obstructive Sleep Apnea as an approved qualifying condition; and
• Overcame multiple staff vacancies to meet both Program Performance Measures, thus ensuring that patients received their cards so that they may access medical cannabis.