Healthcare

New Mexico Medical Society Addresses HB 99

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From the New Mexico Medical Society:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Medical Society (NMMS) is encouraged that HB 99 has advanced out of the House Health & Human Services Committee, reflecting bipartisan recognition that New Mexico must act to stabilize access to healthcare and address the growing physician shortage.

At the same time, the Medical Society is deeply concerned about an amendment adopted in committee that leaves a considerable number of healthcare organizations exposed to uncapped punitive damages.

Protecting access to care requires a coherent and consistent medical liability Read More

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Announces DOJ Launch Of Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Online Claims Portal

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From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a new online portal for Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) claims, implementing the recently extended and expanded program.

Prior to the launch of this online portal, Sen. Luján and the New Mexico Delegation sent an open letter to New Mexico’s holders of health care records, birth and death records, tax records, school records and any other necessary records to request their full cooperation in delivering long overdue justice for Read More

House Bill Would Expand Medicare Consumer Protections

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ALTSD News:

SANTA FE – State aging and insurance officials are urging lawmakers to support Senate Bill 21 and strengthen consumer protections for Medicare enrollees who have Medigap coverage.

The bill would allow beneficiaries enrolled in Original Medicare and Medigap supplemental to change Medigap plans during an annual open enrollment period, preventing insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.  The bill is sponsored by Senators Liz Stefanics, Pete Campos, Rex Wilson, Martin Hickey, and Representative Tara Lujan.

“Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare—especially Read More

Senate Conservation Committee Unanimously Advances $2 Million Mosquito Monitoring Plan That Would Be ‘Early Warning System’ For New Mexico

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Егор Камелев/Pixabay via Public Domain

By LILY ALEXANDER
The Santa Fe New Mexican

For Albuquerque Republican Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, the fight against mosquitoes is personal now.

In September, Tobiassen’s husband contracted West Nile virus and spent four and a half months in the intensive care unit “fighting for his life”, she said Thursday during a committee hearing for Senate Bill 79.

The measure would appropriate $2 million to the New Mexico Department of Health for mosquito surveillance, prevention and mitigation in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

“He survived — against the odds, might I Read More

Negotiations On New Mexico Medical Malpractice Bill Stall Over Punitive Damages

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HB99 Sponsor Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos

By CLARA BATES and MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican

A group convened by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to come to an agreement on changing the state’s medical malpractice law was still negotiating behind the scenes the week of a key House committee hearing on the measure. 

One sticking point, according to an attorney participating in the talks, has been whether or not to cap punitive damages for hospitals.

House Bill 99, set for a debate before the House Health and Human Services Committee on Friday morning, would establish caps for Read More

Lawmakers Introduce Clear Horizons Act ‘To Protect New Mexico Families From Rising Costs’

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — Lawmakers have formally introduced the Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 18), a plan to provide long-term planning, stability, and accountability from the harmful effects of polluting industries.

As New Mexican families continue to face rising costs associated with the waste and byproducts of polluting industries, leaders in Santa Fe are responding with actionable legislation.

The Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 18) responds to the real and growing costs New Mexicans are already paying as extreme weather becomes more frequent and severe. New data presented to legislators Read More

GOP Senators Introduce Bill To End ‘Trial Lawyers’ Chokehold On New Mexico Healthcare’

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Scene from the Roundhouse where Special Sessions are currently underway. Courtesy/Senate GOP

Sen. Craig Brandt is holding legislation that he and Senators Pat Woods, Nicole Tobiassen and Steve Lanier signed. Courtesy photo

Senate Republicans News:

SANTA FE — Four Republican Senators introduced a bill to prohibit obscene “punitive damages” payouts to trial lawyers at the expense of patients and doctors. In 2021, Democrats pushed through damaging increases to the punitive caps on medical malpractice claims, action that has created a crisis in healthcare access for New Mexico families. Read More

Satori Healing Serves People’s Physical And Mental Health

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Dr. Patrick Martin, co-owner of Satori Healing, shows one of the rooms where patients can receive IV infusions. Satori Health, 2610 Trinity #14, offers a wide range of services. For more information, visit https://www.satorihealingnm.com/ or call 505.500.8213. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

While working in the hospital environment, Dr. Patrick Martin began wondering what other options were available to help the community, especially those struggling with mental health.

At times, he cared for challenging Read More

New Mexico House Unanimously Passes Seven Interstate Compact Bills To Expand Access To Healthcare

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STATE News:

SANTA FE – Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed seven bills to expand access to healthcare through participation in interstate compacts, which allow licensed, qualified healthcare providers in other states to serve patients in New Mexico. 
“Compacts are one of the quickest, most effective ways to improve access to healthcare, cut down on long wait times, and improve health outcomes for the people of our state,” said Rep. Liz Thomson (D-Albuquerque), lead sponsor of five of the compact bills passed today. “Not only does participation in compacts attract providers
Read More