Indivisible Santa Fe is hosting Bernalillo Senator Martin Hickey on Monday December 1 to discuss the potential for medical liability reforms, and other legislation structured to make New Mexico a more desirable home for physicians and other medical professionals to practice. Dr. Hickey, a retired internist, formerly engaged in the leadership of large organized health care systems, serves now as the Vice Chair of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. Hickey was educated at Johns Hopkins University and received his medical training at the Rush Medical College and the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Hickey has also worked as a professor of medicine at the University of New Mexico Hospital. His credentials aside, Hickey is widely regarded as the principal champion of the legislative reforms anticipated during the next session of the New Mexico Legislature.
Indivisible Santa Fe is supporting a slate of reforms in the next session of the legislature: Medical liability reform is an indispensable part of improving overall health care delivery. Reform will increase access to care, save vital health care dollars and make the civil justice system more equitable for patients and caregivers.
We are also supporting the expansions of interstate compacts to recognize the credentials of health care personnel licensed in other states. All of our surrounding states participate in the compacts, making New Mexico less competitive in attracting medical talent.
We are also supporting the permanent repeal of New Mexico’s Gross receipts tax on Medical services, and other legislation to fund Medical Education to ensure the State can meet the demand for medical services throughout the State.
We expect that this will be a valuable session to help us prepare for our participation in the upcoming session of the New Mexico Legislature.
The medical liability insurance crisis is a primary factor in the shortage of physicians, specialists and other medical personnel in NM. Several legislators have observed that fixing this problem will be a “heavy lift” in the next session of the legislature. Our united efforts can make a big difference in the outcome of the debates at the Roundhouse.
