Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law on Friday a package of health care bills, including a medical malpractice reform bill and other legislation. She signed the measures along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the construction site of a new 15-bed hospital in Los Lunas in Valencia County.
One of the measures Lujan Grisham signed was House Bill 99. The measure caps punitive damages in medical malpractice claims. The governor said the reform is a major step toward addressing the state’s physician shortage.
“This was an incredible herculean lift because you want to protect patients, but we have to change the climate of practice,” the governor, in a Source NM report, said. “We can’t make New Mexico the No. 1 place to move and raise and grow a family if you are waiting more than a year to see a primary care doctor.”
One of the most closely watched proposals during the state’s recent 30-day legislative session, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos), described the measure as a “balanced approach.” That means limiting jury awards in malpractice cases while ensuring families can still seek legal recourse.
The bill nearly derailed after a proposal to amend it to exempt corporate-owned hospitals from caps on punitive damages. But it sailed through with bipartisan support. Sen. Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte) said the final passage reflected rare bipartisan agreement among lawmakers.
“Today represents something we don’t see nearly enough, and that is true, bipartisan consensus,” Brantley said, adding she was proud lawmakers rejected the amendment, which she described as a “hijacking by special interest groups.”
The reform, however, drew criticism from the advocacy group New Mexico Safety Over Profit. Executive director Johana Bencomo said the law benefits corporate-owned hospitals while limiting support available to families suffering from preventable medical malpractice.
Another measure signed by the governor includes House Bill 4. The bill increases funding for the state’s Health Care Affordability Fund. Supporters of the measure say it would help protect residents who depend on Medicaid if federal funding is reduced. The state has the highest per-capita Medicaid enrollment across the country.
Meanwhile, House Bill 306 prohibits hospitals from collecting facility fees for preventive outpatient care, outpatient vaccinations, and telehealth services. The bill allows such fees for inpatient and emergency care.
Previously, the governor signed a separate bill allowing out-of-state licensed medical professionals to move to and practice in New Mexico. Lujan Grisham said she is open to additional legislative work before her term ends this year.
Lawmakers’ 30-day sessions usually focus on budget matters. But the governor allowed them to address a broader range of issues, such as health care, public safety, and water security.