New Mexico House Republicans have sent a letter to Chairwoman Liz Thomson, requesting the inclusion of medical malpractice reform and additional healthcare policy priorities in the Interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee’s summer work plan.
According to the House Republicans, the letter calls for the committee to consider caps on non-economic damages, clearer legal definitions of medical malpractice, and liability protections for small and independent medical practices. The letter indicates that recent changes to the Medical Malpractice Act have increased liability for providers and contributed to healthcare provider shortages in New Mexico. It also references reports from the Legislative Finance Committee and mentions that past proposals to reform malpractice laws have not been considered by the committee.
"New Mexico continues to suffer from one of the worst shortages of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in the nation," wrote the lawmakers. "This is not a new development, and it is not the result of bad luck. It is a predictable outcome of policy choices—many made under the guise of ‘reform’—that have created a hostile environment for healthcare providers," they said.
Ballotpedia notes that the Health & Human Services Committee is a standing committee of the New Mexico House of Representatives, established in 2015 from what was formerly known as the Health, Government, and Indian Affairs Committee. According to House Rules, committee members are appointed by the Speaker of the House, who also designates committee chairs. The committee’s membership has varied over legislative sessions, typically consisting of both Democratic and Republican representatives.
The New Mexico House Republicans emphasize reducing government size, promoting individual responsibility, and protecting personal freedoms. Their objectives include preserving Second Amendment rights, addressing economic and infrastructure issues, and empowering local authorities. They advocate for enhancing penalties for firearm-related crimes while opposing gun ownership restrictions for law-abiding citizens.
