RECRUIT & RETAIN HEALTH PROVIDERS

HB 393 appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Health for the New Mexico Health Service Corps, specifically to support recruitment and retention of healthcare providers serving rural or underserved communities or patients at federally qualified health centers. The funds are allocated for fiscal years 2026-2027, with no more than $200,000 allowed for administrative costs, and any unspent balance reverts to the general fund by 2027. This bill directly affects healthcare providers working in designated underserved areas and the patients they serve, aiming to address workforce shortages in critical care settings. The bill was referred to committees, passed committee approval, but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.