Healthcare

This House Memorial (HM 35) requests New Mexico's Health Care Authority to develop a Medicaid state plan amendment creating a pediatric palliative care benefit. It would allow children with serious, complex, or life-limiting conditions to receive supportive palliative care - including pain management, family support, and 24/7 nurse access - alongside curative treatments, without requiring a shift to hospice care. The benefit would be modeled on a 2024 UNM study, including specific quality measures and payment structures for providers. This would directly affect families of medically complex children in New Mexico who currently face barriers to accessing coordinated care under existing Medicaid rules.

SB 101 repeals a delayed repeal of New Mexico's Health Care Delivery and Access Act (enacted in 2024). It specifically removes Section 13 of Laws 2024, Chapter 41, which had postponed the original act's repeal. This action restores the full provisions of the Health Care Delivery and Access Act, meaning it directly affects healthcare providers and patients covered under the original legislation. The bill does not change the act's content but ensures it remains in effect without further delay.

SB 20 would change how health insurers and pharmacy benefits managers handle prior authorization for prescription drugs in New Mexico. It prohibits requiring prior authorization for medications treating serious mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar disorder), ensuring patients can access these drugs without delays. For drugs managing chronic conditions (like diabetes or high blood pressure), the bill limits prior authorization reviews to once every three years instead of more frequent checks. The law also requires the state insurance office to standardize the process, create a uniform form for requests, and monitor compliance to prevent unnecessary delays in care.

HB 34 updates New Mexico's school nurse licensure rules to clarify that charter schools must follow the same requirements as public school districts. It establishes three license levels: Level One (a 3-year provisional license requiring mentorship and annual evaluations for new nurses without 3+ years of experience), Level Two (a 9-year license for nurses who complete Level One or have 3+ years of experience), and Level Three (a 9-year license requiring advanced education and leadership skills). The bill sets minimum salaries for each level equal to corresponding teacher salary grades and mandates annual competency reviews by school districts or charter schools. These changes apply to all school nurses employed in New Mexico public and charter schools starting July 1, 2026.

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.

This bill establishes New Mexico's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, enabling licensed physicians to more easily practice across participating states. It requires physicians seeking multi-state licensure to maintain a "state of principal license" (their primary practice location) and meet strict eligibility criteria, including no criminal convictions, active licensure, and no pending disciplinary actions. The compact creates a commission to manage applications, verify qualifications, and issue "expedited licenses" without requiring full re-licensure in each state. This primarily affects physicians already licensed in New Mexico who wish to provide care in other participating states, streamlining cross-state medical practice. The bill is pending final approval after passing the House.