Bill > HM36

This Memorial requests that the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee hold a hearing to discuss hospital charges for uninsured patients in New Mexico, acknowledging that a significant portion of the state's population lacks health insurance and faces medical debt, which can lead to delayed care and worse health outcomes. It also directs the Human Services Department to gather and report specific information from hospitals, including the amount of state and federal funding they receive for uninsured and low-income patients, and the proportion of their bad debt (money owed that is unlikely to be collected) that comes from patients who likely qualify for financial assistance. This information is intended to shed light on how hospitals use public funds and their provisions for financial aid, especially given that many hospitals still pursue aggressive collection actions against patients despite receiving public funds designated for their care.