Healthcare

SB 87 creates a 5-year "Opioid Addiction Prevention Pilot Project" in New Mexico focused on reducing unnecessary opioid prescriptions after surgery. The bill requires the Department of Health to contract with a qualified third party to implement nurse navigation services - clinically-led, personalized pain management coaching and education for surgical patients and providers - to improve pain control while lowering opioid use. It appropriates $9 million from the opioid crisis recovery fund (2026-2031) for this project, with annual reports to legislative committees tracking surgical cases covered and opioids avoided. The pilot directly affects surgical patients, hospitals, and healthcare providers by changing post-surgery pain management protocols.

HB 249 creates a New Mexico tax credit for health care practitioners who adopt digital medical records systems. It allows eligible practitioners (like physicians, nurses, and psychologists) to claim a credit equal to their payments for electronic medical records, up to $6,000 per year, if they meet specific requirements: providing at least 1,584 hours of care annually, working at a small health care institution (employing ≤10 practitioners), and maintaining payment records. The credit is non-refundable and cannot be carried forward if it exceeds tax liability, and practitioners cannot claim it if they already use a separate rural health care tax credit. The credit applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030.

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.

SB 130 prohibits copays and deductibles for specific cholesterol-related care under New Mexico health plans. It requires coverage for generic cholesterol medications and coronary artery calcium scans without cost-sharing for adults over 49 with intermediate heart disease risk (determined by medical algorithms), unless they have family history or diagnosed symptoms. The bill also eliminates cost-sharing for second-line cholesterol medications if generic drugs fail or cause adverse reactions. It excludes short-term plans, catastrophic plans, and high-deductible health plans until deductibles are met, as defined by federal law.