This memorial (HM 31) requests New Mexico's Health Care Authority to reevaluate its rule limiting home health agencies to serving patients within 100 miles of their licensed location. The current rule creates barriers for rural, frontier, and tribal communities - especially those facing geographic isolation and workforce shortages - by restricting agency service areas. The memorial asks the Authority to align home health service rules with existing personal care services policies, which allow broader service areas, to improve access to medically necessary home care. It specifically prioritizes communities impacted by radiation exposure (e.g., uranium miners) and those on Navajo Nation lands. As a memorial, it does not change law but urges regulatory review to address access gaps.
New Mexico's SB 252 creates a new liquor excise surtax on retailers and directs the revenue to a new Tribal Alcohol Harms Alleviation Fund. It also amends tax definitions to exclude liquor taxes from "gross receipts" calculations for other state taxes. The bill updates how existing liquor tax revenue is distributed, including maintaining funding for local DWI programs, alcohol treatment services, and drug courts. This directly affects liquor retailers (through the new surtax) and tribal communities (as recipients of the new fund). The changes aim to redirect liquor tax revenue toward tribal-specific alcohol harm programs while simplifying tax calculations.
HB 302 creates a new process for health care professionals (like doctors and specialists) to qualify for exemptions from their health insurer’s prior authorization requirements for outpatient services. To qualify, a professional must have had at least 90% of their prior authorization requests approved in the previous six-month period for the same service type. Insurers must grant exemptions within 10 business days if criteria are met, provide clear written explanations for denials, and allow independent reviews of rescission decisions within 30 days. The exemption does not cover pharmaceutical services or prescription drugs.
SB 229 amends New Mexico law to allow physicians licensed under the Medical Practice Act to perform auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) as part of their existing scope of practice, without needing separate acupuncture licensure. It also creates a new certification for non-physicians to provide auricular acupuncture specifically for treating alcoholism, substance abuse, or chemical dependency, requiring completion of approved training, clean needle technique, and background checks. Certified specialists must work under supervision of a licensed doctor of oriental medicine and adhere to board-approved protocols for substance abuse treatment. The bill establishes fees for certification, renewal, and program approvals, and requires certified specialists to use the title "Certified Auricular Detoxification Specialist" (C.A.D.S.). This directly affects physicians, certified specialists, and substance abuse treatment programs in New Mexico.
SB 222 appropriates $20 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Health Care Authority for fiscal years 2027-2029 to create new physician residency programs and training positions. The funding is specifically for establishing new residency spots, not altering existing programs or requirements. Any unspent funds by the end of fiscal year 2029 will return to the general fund. This bill directly affects the Health Care Authority and future medical residents in New Mexico through new training opportunities.
This Senate Memorial (SM 29) requests the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center to study communication barriers in New Mexico's healthcare system, particularly language access gaps affecting patients. It directs UNM to coordinate with healthcare facilities statewide to identify obstacles preventing effective treatment and develop solutions, focusing on improving interpreter services and reducing disparities. The memorial does not create new laws but asks for data collection and strategy development to address existing gaps in care for patients with limited language proficiency.
HB 279 strengthens privacy protections for patients seeking reproductive health care or gender-affirming care in New Mexico. It restricts the disclosure of health information related to these services, bans location tracking at facilities providing such care, and requires hospitals to follow updated licensing standards. The bill also allows providers to participate in the Confidential Substitute Address Act and imposes civil penalties for violations. These changes directly affect patients, healthcare providers, and facilities offering reproductive or gender-affirming care.
HB 316 creates a state fund to cover malpractice insurance premiums for rural hospitals in New Mexico. It appropriates $100 million from the general fund to establish a trust fund that provides "premium grants" to eligible hospitals, defined as those operating in health care underserved areas and maintaining essential services. Hospitals must apply through the Department of Health, certify funds will only cover insurance premiums, and provide annual reports on financial stability and staffing. The program requires the Department to annually report on grant recipients, costs, and impacts on hospital operations. This direct policy change addresses rising insurance costs for rural facilities serving underserved communities.
This House Memorial expresses support for expanding the scope of practice for certified advanced practice chiropractors in New Mexico to include primary care services. It aims to address the state's primary care shortage - especially in rural and underserved areas - by allowing chiropractors who already have advanced training and limited prescriptive authority to provide primary care under a two-tiered certification system developed by the New Mexico Chiropractic Association. The memorial urges the chiropractic board to establish standards for training and oversight to ensure safe care delivery, without creating new legal authority for chiropractors. As a non-binding memorial, it does not change existing law but encourages regulatory development.
This House Memorial (HM 39) requests that New Mexico's Secretary of Public Safety and the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs convene a task force to study the state's sexual assault examination kit processing system. The task force, including representatives from law enforcement, healthcare, and victim services, must report by July 2026 on backlog progress, service adequacy for survivors, and potential solutions. It directly affects state agencies managing forensic evidence and sexual assault programs, aiming to address delays in processing kits. The memorial does not create new law but mandates a review to improve handling of these critical forensic tools.
