Bill > HB143

This bill aims to improve healthcare access and address medical malpractice by increasing tax credits for rural healthcare practitioners, introducing a new tax credit for physicians who complete residencies and practice in New Mexico, and establishing a loan repayment program for medical residents and fellows who commit to practicing in the state. The Medical Residency Loan Repayment Act, as it will be known, will provide financial assistance to eligible medical professionals to repay their student loans in exchange for service. Additionally, the bill modifies the Medical Malpractice Act by expanding the definition of "health care provider" to include more types of practitioners, clarifying what constitutes an "occurrence" in malpractice claims, and establishing new limits on the total damages recoverable in malpractice lawsuits, with specific provisions for payments from the Patient's Compensation Fund (a fund designed to cover malpractice claims exceeding a provider's liability) and limitations on punitive damages. It also mandates that the Health Care Authority conduct cost studies to ensure adequate Medicaid reimbursement rates for various healthcare providers and caps attorney contingency fees in malpractice cases.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=143&year=26