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.
HB 32 creates the Counseling Licensure Compact, allowing licensed professional counselors in participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed counselors and their clients in member states, enabling them to provide in-person or telehealth counseling services where the client is located. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, sharing of disciplinary records between states, and requiring counselors to follow the practice laws of the state where the client is located. The compact also specifically supports military spouses relocating with active-duty service members. This bill does not change existing state licensure requirements but streamlines interstate practice for qualified counselors.
HB 258 expands the scope of practice for licensed dental hygienists in New Mexico by clarifying collaborative work arrangements with dentists. It directly affects dental hygienists, dental therapists, and community dental health coordinators who provide care in non-traditional settings like community health centers. The bill creates new definitions for "collaborative dental hygiene practice" and "dental therapy practice agreements," allowing hygienists to perform more services under defined protocols with a collaborating dentist's oversight, without requiring the dentist to be physically present during all procedures. This change aims to increase access to preventive dental care in underserved areas while maintaining professional accountability through board rules.
HB 150 eliminates a requirement that physician assistants (PAs) in New Mexico must practice under direct physician supervision. The bill amends the definition of "physician assistant" in state law to remove the phrase "with the supervision of or in collaboration with a licensed physician," meaning PAs can now provide patient care without needing a physician physically present during services. This directly affects licensed PAs and the New Mexico Medical Board, which previously enforced these supervision rules. The change streamlines practice standards for PAs while maintaining their need for collaboration with physicians as defined elsewhere in the law.
SB 15 requires all health insurance plans in New Mexico (including group plans, HMOs, and nonprofit plans) to include every licensed healthcare provider - such as doctors, nurses, therapists, and other practitioners - within their legal scope of practice, provided the provider agrees to the plan's terms. The bill does not force insurers to contract with providers but mandates that if they do, all licensed providers must be included. It allows insurers to set different payment rates based on quality or performance but prohibits excluding providers solely due to their license type. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting insurers, healthcare providers, and patients seeking coverage for physical or behavioral health services.
HB 13 creates the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, allowing occupational therapists and assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining a new license. It directly affects licensed therapists seeking to work across state lines, patients accessing services in different states, and military spouses relocating with their partners. Key mechanisms include establishing "compact privilege" for interstate practice, requiring states to share disciplinary and investigative information through a national data system, and supporting telehealth delivery of services. The bill aims to improve access to occupational therapy while maintaining each state's authority to protect public health and safety through existing licensure standards.
This bill creates a $4,000 tax credit for New Mexico physicians who provide at least 1,584 hours of healthcare in the state annually. To qualify, physicians must apply for certification through the Department of Health and meet the hour requirement. Unused portions of the credit can be carried forward for up to three years. The credit applies to licensed medical and osteopathic physicians starting with tax years beginning January 1, 2026.
HB 129 requires New Mexico health insurance carriers to include all licensed health care providers (such as doctors, therapists, and specialists) within their legal scope of practice in coverage plans. It applies to group health plans, individual insurance policies, health maintenance organizations, and nonprofit health plans, effective July 1, 2026. The bill does not force insurers to contract with specific providers but mandates that if a provider is licensed to practice in New Mexico, they must be included in coverage plans. Insurers may still set different reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures.
HB 10 establishes the Physician Assistant Licensure Interstate Compact, allowing physician assistants (PAs) licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without needing separate licenses. It requires states to mutually recognize PAs' licenses and mandates that PAs practice under the jurisdiction of the state where the patient is located at the time of care. The compact specifically benefits military families by enabling active-duty personnel and their spouses to use their home state license in other participating states, while states retain authority to take disciplinary action against PAs for safety concerns. This eliminates licensing barriers for PAs working across state lines while maintaining patient safety standards.
HB 45, the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, would allow physician assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It creates a shared data system for states to track license status and disciplinary actions, and requires that physician assistants follow the laws of the state where the patient is located during care. The bill directly affects physician assistants, particularly military families who can more easily practice across state lines with one license, and state licensing boards that must adopt the compact's standards. If enacted, it would streamline licensure for medical professionals while maintaining patient safety through mutual recognition of licenses.
