HOUSE DEMOCRATS NEWS RELEASE

House passes three more bills to expand access to care, lower healthcare costs, and support healthcare providers while protecting patient safety

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed three important bills to improve access to high quality, affordable healthcare statewide. All three bills are part of the House Democrats’ comprehensive healthcare agenda for this session and each now heads to the Senate for consideration. 

House Bill 99, which makes targeted changes to New Mexico’s medical malpractice laws to improve the climate for doctors and providers while protecting patient safety, passed the House floor by a vote of 66-3. 

“New Mexico’s doctor shortage leads to longer wait times and delayed care across our state. This session we’re addressing that shortage head-on by doubling down on our investments in provider recruitment and retention,” said HB 99 lead sponsor Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos). “Bringing our medical malpractice laws more in line with other states will improve the climate for doctors in our state, while also continuing to protect patients’ ability to pursue justice and compensation.” 

In medical malpractice cases, a patient harmed by a medical error can sue the doctor or hospital to receive compensation for their injuries and related expenses. Currently, the maximum limit or “cap” for that compensation in New Mexico is $6 million for hospitals and hospital-affiliated outpatient facilities. 

In cases of extreme negligence or misconduct, patients may also pursue punitive damages against the provider or facility. HB 99 would better align New Mexico’s malpractice laws with those in neighboring states by establishing caps on these punitive damage awards. The bill allows higher caps for punitive damages awarded against hospitals owned by large corporations and lower caps for smaller and independent providers.

The bill would also raise the legal standard of proof needed to pursue punitive damages, and require that the initial claim be substantiated before a patient can pursue them. HB 99 has 26 bipartisan sponsors, including House Majority Whip Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque) and Reps. Sarah Silva (D-Las Cruces), and Doreen Gallegos (D-Las Cruces). 

The House also passed House Bill 66, with a unanimous vote. This legislation would expand the state’s Health Professional Loan Repayment Act, to help providers repay their student debt if they commit to practicing in New Mexico for at least three years. HB 66 extends eligibility for this program to a much wider list of healthcare providers. 

It also increases the amounts provided to physicians to $75,000 per year in return for four years of service in our state, making it one of the most competitive loan repayment programs in the nation. HB 66 is sponsored by Rep. Chandler, along with Rep. Eleanor Chávez (D-Albuquerque) and Senator Natalie Figueroa (D-Albuquerque). 

Additionally, the House passed House Bill 306, which would create the Fair Pricing for Routine Medical Care Act to protect New Mexicans from unnecessary medical charges. HB 306 prohibits hospitals and health systems from charging a facility fee for telehealth appointments or for preventive healthcare services or vaccinations provided in an outpatient facility. It also adds new requirements to increase transparency in pricing. HB 306 passed unanimously.

“As the federal government rolls back support for healthcare nationwide, New Mexico is stepping up to make sure your healthcare is affordable, accessible, and high-quality,” said HB 306 sponsor House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe). “House Democrats are committed to lowering your out-of-pocket healthcare costs, attracting new providers to New Mexico, and letting our existing healthcare workforce know that they are valued and supported in our state.” 

House Democrats’ comprehensive agenda to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare this session includes legislation and investments to improve access to care, lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs, recruit and retain providers, and create a welcoming climate for healthcare professionals. A select list of House Democrats’ key healthcare priorities is below. 

The Roundhouse will be open to the public for the entirety of this year’s 30-day session. Members of the public can also view floor sessions and committee meetings on the New Mexico Legislature’s Webcasts tab, and provide comment via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.   

Select Healthcare Priorities 

A non-comprehensive list of healthcare investments and legislation introduced by House Democrats this session includes: 

• Lowering out-of-pocket healthcare costs by eliminating excessive facility fees (HB 306*) and expanding the Healthcare Affordability Fund, allowing the state to continue keeping marketplace insurance premiums affordable for working families (HB 4*, HB 2*)
• Decreasing health insurance costs for public school teachers and staff, so they can keep more of their hard-earned money (HB 47)*
• Growing a strong healthcare workforce by doubling the size of the UNM Medical School (HB 2)*
• Creating a licensure pathway for qualified international physicians, improving the expedited licensure process for all providers coming to New Mexico, and expanding telehealth options (HB 127)*
• Investing heavily in provider recruitment and retention (HB 68), including expanding the state’s loan repayment program (HB 66*, HB 2*) and offsetting the cost of training for residents (HB 2*), and expanding the Rural Healthcare Practitioner Tax Credit (HB 142)
• Making targeted changes to medical malpractice laws to improve the climate for doctors and providers (HB 99*, HB 195, HB 15)
• Creating a personal income tax credit for healthcare providers mentoring aspiring students in their field (HB 90)
• Improving access to healthcare by joining interstate medical compacts
  • HB 10: Physician Assistant Interstate Compact* 
  • HB 11: Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact*
  • HB 12: Physical Therapy Licensure Compact* 
  • HB 13: Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact* 
  • HB 14: Dental and Dentist Hygienist Compact*
  • HB 31: EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact*
  • HB 32: Counseling Licensure Compact* 
  • HB 33: Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact* 
  • HB 50: Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact*
  • SB 1: Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act* 

*Indicates legislation has passed the House