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A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH AN UNBIASED AND FAIR PROCESS TO REVIEW

SCOPES OF PRACTICE OF THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS.

WHEREAS, the legislature seeks objective information on

proposed changes to health care scopes of practice or the

creation of new scopes of practice; and

WHEREAS, the reasons for scope of practice changes

should have a foundational basis within four areas: an

established history of the practice scope within the

profession, education and training, supporting evidence and an

appropriate regulatory environment; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of any review and subsequent change

of any scope of practice is to promote better consumer care

across professions and providers, improve access to care and

recognize the inevitability of overlapping scopes of practice;

and

WHEREAS, some practice changes are the result of changes

already occurring in education or practice due to research,

advances in technology and changes in societal health care

demands;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the interim legislative health and

human services committee study and recommend to the

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legislature an unbiased and fair process to review proposed

changes to scopes of practice of licensed health professions

and new health professions requesting licensure; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the interim legislative health and human

services committee, each of the health-related licensing or

certification boards, the board of nursing and the New Mexico

medical board.