SENATE CORPORATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL 540

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

AN ACT

RELATING TO TAXATION; PROVIDING FOR AN INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR CERTAIN MEDICAL CARE EXPENSES.

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

     Section 1. A new section of the Income Tax Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] CREDIT--UNREIMBURSED OR UNCOMPENSATED MEDICAL CARE EXPENSES.--

          A. A taxpayer who files an individual New Mexico income tax return and who is not a dependent of another taxpayer may claim a credit for ten percent of medical care expenses paid by the taxpayer for that taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse or a dependent of the taxpayer during the taxable year if the medical care expenses exceed twenty-eight thousand dollars ($28,000) and if the medical care expenses are not reimbursed or compensated for by insurance or otherwise.

          B. A husband and wife who file separate returns for a taxable year in which they could have filed a joint return may each claim only one-half of the credit that would have been allowed on a joint return.

          C. The credit provided in this section may be deducted from the taxpayer's income tax liability. If the credit exceeds the income tax liability for the taxable year, the excess shall be refunded to the taxpayer.

          D. As used in this section:

                (1) "dependent" means dependent as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code;

                (2) "health care facility" means a hospital, outpatient facility, diagnostic and treatment center, rehabilitation center, freestanding hospice or other similar facility at which medical care is provided;

                (3) "medical care" means the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body;

                (4) "medical care expenses" means amounts paid for:

                     (a) the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body if provided by a physician or in a health care facility;

                     (b) prescribed drugs or insulin;

                     (c) qualified long-term care services as defined in Section 7702B(c) of the Internal Revenue Code;

                     (d) insurance covering medical care, including amounts paid as premiums under Part B of Title 18 of the Social Security Act or for a qualified long-term care insurance contract defined in Section 7702B(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, if the insurance or other amount is paid from income included in the taxpayer's adjusted gross income for the taxable year;

                     (e) specialized treatment or the use of special therapeutic devices if the treatment or device is prescribed by a physician and the patient can show that the expense was incurred primarily for the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness; and

                     (f) care in an institution other than a hospital, such as a sanitarium or rest home, if the principal reason for the presence of the person in the institution is to receive the medical care available; provided that if the meals and lodging are furnished as a necessary part of such care, the cost of the meals and lodging are "medical care expenses";

                (5) "physician" means a medical doctor, osteopathic physician, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractic physician or psychologist licensed or certified to practice in New Mexico; and

                (6) "prescribed drug" means a drug or biological that requires a prescription of a physician for its use by an individual."

     Section 2. APPLICABILITY.--The provisions of this act apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2005.

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