HOUSE BILL 31

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Patricia A. Lundstrom

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; REQUIRING MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY LICENSED CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIANS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. Section 27-2-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, Chapter 376, Section 16, as amended) is amended to read:

     "27-2-12. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.--Consistent with the federal act and subject to the appropriation and availability of federal and state funds, the medical assistance division of the [human services] department [may by regulation] shall by rule provide medical assistance, including the services of licensed doctors of oriental medicine and licensed [chiropractors] chiropractic physicians, to persons eligible for public assistance programs under the federal act."

     Section 2. Section 27-2-12.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1987, Chapter 269, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

     "27-2-12.3. MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT--EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL PHYSICIANS', DENTISTS', OPTOMETRISTS', PODIATRISTS', CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIANS' AND PSYCHOLOGISTS' SERVICES.--The human services department shall establish a rate for the reimbursement of physicians, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, chiropractic physicians and psychologists for services rendered to medicaid patients that provides equal reimbursement for the same or similar services rendered without respect to the date on which such physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist, chiropractic physician or psychologist entered into practice in New Mexico, the date on which the physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist, chiropractic physician or psychologist entered into an agreement or contract to provide such services or the location in which such services are to be provided in the state; provided, however, that the requirements of this section shall not apply when the human services department contracts with entities pursuant to Section 27-2-12.6 NMSA 1978 to negotiate a rate for the reimbursement for services rendered to medicaid patients in the medicaid managed care system."

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