HB 12 establishes New Mexico's participation in the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, allowing physical therapists licensed in one participating state to practice in New Mexico without obtaining a separate license. The bill requires states to share disciplinary information, conduct federal background checks, and recognize licenses across member states, with practice always governed by the state where the patient is located. It directly affects physical therapists seeking to work across state lines, military spouses relocating with service members, and state licensing boards managing cross-jurisdictional practice. Key provisions include mutual license recognition, standardized criminal background checks, and mechanisms for states to share investigative data to protect public safety.
HB 241 requires New Mexico courts to notify the Medical Board when physicians are named as defendants in malpractice lawsuits, including dismissals or amendments removing a physician. It extends the period the Medical Board can temporarily suspend a physician's license without a hearing and mandates the Board to post all active malpractice claims, related payments, and disciplinary actions on its website. Hospitals and healthcare entities must report malpractice settlements exceeding $1 million to the Board. This bill directly affects physicians facing lawsuits, the Medical Board, courts, and healthcare providers required to submit reporting data.
HB 94 amends New Mexico's Optometry Act to expand optometrists' scope of practice regarding specific laser procedures and strengthen the Board of Optometry's authority. It directly affects optometrists seeking to perform laser treatments for eye conditions like capsular clouding or glaucoma (e.g., laser trabeculoplasty), requiring them to obtain board credentialing. Key provisions establish two pathways for credentialing: graduating from an accredited optometry program with a national exam pass, or completing a 32-hour accredited training course plus supervised live-patient practice under an ophthalmologist or certified optometrist. The bill also clarifies the Board's role in enforcing these rules, issuing advisory opinions, and managing licensure.
HB 50 creates the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, allowing licensed social workers to practice across participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It establishes a "multistate license" system where a social worker's home state license authorizes practice in all compact states, using a shared data system to track licenses and any restrictions. To join, states must require national exams, meet education standards, and have complaint systems in place. The bill directly affects licensed social workers seeking to work in multiple states and their home state licensing authorities, streamlining practice across state lines while maintaining oversight.
HB 213 proposes to expand the scope of practice for optometrists in New Mexico by adding specific minor surgical procedures to the definition of "practice of optometry." The bill would allow optometrists to perform procedures like removing superficial eyelid lesions, foreign bodies from the eye, and certain laser treatments for conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma - previously restricted to ophthalmologists. It also grants the Board of Optometry additional authority to develop certification standards for pharmaceutical use and laser procedures. This change directly affects optometrists in New Mexico by expanding their permitted clinical services without physician supervision. The bill, currently in committee review, does not alter existing exemptions for physicians or eyeglass sellers.
