HOUSE BILL 579

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Jenifer Jones

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; ESTABLISHING THE NEW MEXICO RESIDENT PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT PROGRAM; PROVIDING FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO RESIDENT PHYSICIANS TO DO ROTATIONS AT NON-UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WITHIN THE STATE TO BE EXPOSED TO BROADER RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITIES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 24 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW MEXICO RESIDENT PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT PROGRAM.--

          A. The "New Mexico resident physician recruitment program" is established within the graduate medical education office at the university of New Mexico.

          B. The graduate medical education office shall administer the program and allocate funding for:

                (1) up to two weeks per year of supervised rotations at non-university of New Mexico hospitals and clinics in the state for participating resident physicians; and

                (2) resident salaries, cost-of-living stipends, medical malpractice insurance and travel reimbursement.

          C. Hospitals and clinics participating in the program shall:

                (1) provide an adequate learning environment for resident physicians;

                (2) designate a licensed physician mentor to oversee a resident's clinical activities; and

                (3) adhere to all applicable resident work hour restrictions as required by the national accreditation body for graduate medical education.

          D. The graduate medical education office shall, no later than January 1, 2026, annually survey participating hospitals, clinics and residents to assess program outcomes and provide a report to the legislature."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--One million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of regents of the university of New Mexico for expenditure in fiscal year 2026 for funding additional residency options within the state to broaden recruitment opportunities. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2026 shall revert to the general fund.

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