Six new laws that could make getting health care in New Mexico easier

Launching the state's Health Care Authority was one of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's many goals for the 2024 legislative session, but legislators also passed bills to subsidize rural hospitals, get more money for emergency medical services and more.

The Health Care Authority is a new state agency launching in July that merges the New Mexico Human Services Department, the State Employee Benefits team, the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division, the Division of Health Improvement and the Health Care Affordability Fund. Lujan Grisham signed SB14 on Friday to redirect some functions of other agencies to the Health Care Authority.

Here are six other bills Lujan Grisham signed into law this year that could make it easier for New Mexicans to get health care:

1. Making it easier for people with cancer or autoimmune diseases to get treatment. SB135 is designed so that patients with cancer or autoimmune diseases would no longer need prior authorization from their insurance provider to be approved for treatment or prescription medications.

2. More money for local emergency medical services. SB151 appropriates $22 million from the general fund and distributes 10% of the health insurance premium tax to the emergency medical services fund. The fund helps municipalities and counties establish and enhance local emergency medical services.

3. Subsidizing rural hospitals. SB161 creates a subsidy program for some rural hospitals to help recover revenue losses. Legislators focused several bills this session on aiding rural hospitals. Eight of the state's 28 hospitals are at risk of closure, according to previous coverage.

4. Getting data about expensive medications. HB33 requires drug manufacturers selling certain high cost drugs to report specific data points to the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance. The data is meant to guide future policies to reduce prescription drug prices.

5. Allowing prescribing psychologists to do more. SB127 gives licensed psychologists with the correct certification the ability to prescribe and administer injections for psychotropic drugs and intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. The bill also changes the structure of the Board of Psychologist Examiners.

6. Oversight of New Mexico hospital mergers. SB15 allows the Office of Superintendent of Insurance to decide whether proposed mergers, consolidations or ownership changes of New Mexico hospitals would be detrimental to health care in New Mexico. There is an exception for state and university-run facilities.