Democrats Stall Doctor Retention Bill, Senate Republican Leader Responds

SANTA FE – Today, Democrats on the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee tabled Senate Bill 296, sponsored by Senator Mark Moores (R-Albuquerque) and Senator Martin Hickey (D-Albuquerque), on a 5-4 vote. The bill would have maintained the medical malpractice caps for independent providers and outpatient facilities at an insurable amount. As it stands, many doctors and practices who cannot get sufficient insurance will be forced to close their doors in 2024. The bill sponsors introduced a committee substitute to pause the implementation of the higher limit caps for two more years while negotiations could continue, but the substitute was also rejected.

Senate Republican Leader, Senator Greg Baca (R-Belen), issued the following statement regarding the tabling of the bill:

“It is clear that some politicians are so beholden to their special interest donors that they are willing to chase our doctors out of New Mexico. While the Governor can afford to fly to Washington D.C. for care, New Mexicans are suffering from untreated illness due to lack of access to diagnostic and preventative medicine. This will only get worse and the unwillingness of the Governor and Democratic leaders to advance a fix to this looming healthcare crisis is completely unacceptable. The fault lies squarely at their feet."

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