Hub & Spoke Health Care Pilot Project
Under this bill, a comprehensive preventive health care provider team, consisting of various licensed health professionals, will be established to ensure that effective health care services are readily available to students. The pilot project will specifically target schools in the northeast region of the state, centered around a federally qualified health center in San Miguel County. Data compilation regarding student health and academic outcomes will be collected, with collaboration from the public education department. A final report is expected by November 1, 2030, outlining the project's effectiveness and insights.
Senate Bill 261, titled the Hub & Spoke Health Care Pilot Project, is designed to enhance access to preventive health care services in public schools located in underserved areas of New Mexico. The bill proposes a five-year pilot project within the Department of Health, aiming to implement a hub-and-spoke model. This model includes a central health care clinic, or 'hub', along with various satellite facilities or mobile services referred to as 'spokes'. The goal is to facilitate the delivery of preventive health care at public schools, directly influencing student health and academic performance as well as broader public health outcomes.
The bill's proponents argue that increasing access to preventive health care services within schools will significantly improve both health and educational outcomes for students in underserved areas. However, potential points of contention may arise in relation to funding and the effectiveness of project implementation. Critics may question whether one-time appropriations of $1,750,000 from the general fund will be sufficient, along with the overall sustainability of such programs if they are to be scaled in the future.