Latest news with #Bill176
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OPINION: Talk of the Town
Mar. 16—Journal coverage shows lawmakers ties to special interest Hats off to the Albuquerque Journal for its investigation of Senate Bill 176 on malpractice reform. This is why you should continue to subscribe to the Journal. Without them, we may never even have known of this bill. It turns out that the committee approving the bill for voting has simply ignored it long enough that it likely will not be voted on in this session. We residents have fewer and fewer doctors available to us and I frequently ask myself why I continue to live in this state where it takes several months to get to see a doctor or have a medical procedure. The disturbing news was reported in the March 9 front-page article titled "A malpractice bill has yet to be heard in Senate committee" and reported how little the special interest groups, such as the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association, need to spend to "buy" the votes of our legislators. According to the article, it donated $10,500 to the Democratic Committee Chair and a like amount was donated by individual lawyers and law firms. Contributions were made to the other Democratic committee members as well. This is a pittance compared to the millions of dollars that lawyers receive on medical malpractice suits. The lawyers get a steady flow of profits from the New Mexico malpractice law and we get fewer and fewer primary care doctors every year (a 30% reduction from 2017 to 2021). Malpractice reform is vital to New Mexico residents' health care. It was shocking to learn how inexpensive it is to "buy votes." This is exacerbated by our legislators receiving no income (just per diem for expenses) for their service, setting them up to be swayed by outside influencers. Jim Larson Albuquerque
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill that would lower cap for medical malpractice cases fails in legislature
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A bill aimed at lowering the cap for medical malpractice failed to move through the Roundhouse. In 2020, lawmakers raised the state's medical malpractice cap to $5 million for hospitals, and $750,000 for doctors. Some believe the high caps led to such high insurance rates that doctors left New Mexico in droves. New Mexico Senate passes bill aimed at bringing more oversight to CYFD Senate Bill 176 aimed to lower those caps in an effort to keep doctors in the state. In the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, people debated the issue with supporters noting the diverse and broad support of the 23 sponsors. 'Even with a balanced bill, it's still hard for us to protect our doctors. I think we'll feel this for years to come,' said Sen. David Gallegos (R-Eddy & Lea Counties).'I agree that we need to ensure that we are recruiting and retaining medical professionals…But I just do not agree with the way the bill is written and I want to ensure the voices of patients are at the table when these things are being crafted,' said Sen. Cindy Nava (D-Bernalillo & Sandoval Counties.) The bill failed in a 5-4 vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
$2M health care worker recruitment effort passes House
Mar. 5—SANTA FE — A $2 million effort to draw health care workers back to New Mexico is heading to the Senate. The House floor on Wednesday passed House Bill 15 on a 39-21 vote. The legislation would create a "health care strategic recruitment program" within the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, sending $2 million for the state to use for recruitment efforts. The bill specifically targets health care professionals who have graduated within the last 10 years from a New Mexico institution or program but aren't practicing in the state. "I do believe that our health care workers across the state maybe need a little bit of a battle cry to come back home: We miss you, and we're ready for you," Anaya said. She added that the $2 million appropriation is already included in the proposed budget sitting in the Senate Finance Committee. The bill is part of a larger package Democrats have dubbed "patient safety over profits." Another effort part of the package, to institute stricter nurse-to-patient ratios, is waiting to be heard on the House floor. Anaya had to steer the debate back to her bill a few times in the hourlong discussion. Health care worker recruitment and retention has become somewhat of a contentious issue in the Roundhouse, mainly in terms of how to address the workforce shortage plaguing New Mexico. Rep. Cathrynn Brown, R-Carlsbad, brought medical malpractice into the conversation. Republicans have been supportive of efforts to rein in medical malpractice lawsuit damages. Brown said "basic reform" to the state's medical malpractice laws would be a better measure to implement to recruit workers, as opposed to spending $2 million on these recruitment efforts. Rep. Art De La Cruz, D-Albuquerque, also had questions on medical malpractice, saying that many doctors are leaving New Mexico because of its laws. A bill to curb medical malpractice liability while not reducing caps on damages, Senate Bill 176, still hasn't had its first committee hearing. Set to go before Senate Health and Public Affairs first, committee chair Sen. Linda López, D-Albuquerque, declined to comment on the bill or when it would be scheduled. Anaya, in response to De La Cruz, said hospitals pay for medical malpractice insurance. In turn, De La Cruz pointed out that "not every medical operation is a hospital." "Not everybody's Presbyterian or UNMH. In my district ... I have Casa de Salud, and they struggle mightily," said De La Cruz, who represents Albuquerque's South Valley. He continued to ask how medical malpractice affects community health care workers. Anaya clarified that HB15 is not about medical malpractice but said caseworkers, as part of the bill, could help interested transplants get set up in local practices. Following this year's House tradition of a standing ovation after a new legislator's first bill passage and having the newbie sing a song, Anaya belted out a few lines of "Proud Mary" after HB15 passed the floor.
