FIFTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE

SECOND SESSION, 2026

February 4, 2026

 

 

 

Mr. Speaker:

 

    Your HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

 

HOUSE BILL 127

 

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

 

1. On page 1, line 14, after the semicolon, insert "REQUIRING THE NEW MEXICO MEDICAL BOARD TO ESTABLISH A LICENSURE PROCESS FOR PHYSICIANS TRAINED IN OTHER NATIONS;".

 

     2. On page 2, strike lines 23 through 25 and on page 3, strike lines 1 through 6 and insert in lieu thereof:

 

          "D. The board may issue a provisional license to practice medicine that is valid for a period not to exceed two years to an applicant who is a qualified international medical graduate, if the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the board that the applicant has:

 

                (1) graduated from a legally chartered medical school located outside of the United States and Canada that is recognized by the world health organization or the world directory of medical schools;

 

                (2) been licensed or otherwise authorized to practice medicine in a country other than the United States and has not been out of practice for more than two years;

 

                (3) a valid certificate issued by the educational commission for foreign medical graduates or another credential evaluation service approved by the board; provided that the board may waive the certification requirement provided by this paragraph if the applicant demonstrates that the documentation required is unobtainable;

 

                (4) achieved a passing score on both step one and step two clinical knowledge of the United States medical licensing examination;

 

                (5) entered into an agreement with a health care facility for full-time employment under the supervision of a licensed physician; provided that the health care facility shall develop, assess and evaluate the physician's familiarity with standards appropriate for medical practice in New Mexico using assessment and evaluation criteria developed or approved by the board; and

 

                (6) satisfied any other criteria that the board may require for issuance of a provisional license pursuant to this subsection.

 

          E. A person who successfully obtains a provisional license pursuant to Subsection D of this section and practices under that license until the license expires shall be eligible to apply for a renewable two-year restricted license to practice medicine in an underserved community in the state. The board may issue the restricted license to practice medicine in an underserved community if an applicant successfully demonstrates to the board that the applicant has:

 

                (1) successfully completed all assessments and evaluations required pursuant to Subsection D of this section;

 

                (2) achieved a passing score on step three of the United States medical licensing examination;

 

                (3) an offer of full-time employment from a health care facility located in an underserved community in the state; and

 

                (4) no disciplinary actions or pending investigations related to the applicant's practice under the provisional license issued pursuant to Subsection D of this section.

 

          F. A person who successfully obtains a restricted license pursuant to Subsection E of this section and practices under that license for at least two years shall be eligible to apply for a license to practice medicine. The board may issue a license to practice medicine if an applicant:

 

                (1) has no disciplinary actions or pending investigations related to the applicant's practice under the restricted license issued pursuant to Subsection E of this section; and

 

                (2) meets the other requirements of this section.".

 

     3. Reletter the succeeding subsections accordingly.

 

     4. On page 4, line 8, strike the closing quotation mark and between lines 8 and 9, insert:

 

          "L. As used in this section, "underserved community" means

a geographic area or practice location in which it has been determined by the department of health, through the use of indices and other standards set by the department of health, that sufficient health care services are not being provided."".

 

 

 

and thence referred to the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.                         

                             Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

                                                                 

Elizabeth Thomson, Chair

 

 

Adopted     Not Adopted

           (Chief Clerk)                            (Chief Clerk)

 

Date

 

 

The roll call vote was 9 For 0 Against

Yes:      Anaya, Cates, Chavez, N, Chávez, E, Ferrary, Herndon, Jones, Sena Cortez, Thomson

No:       0

Excused:  Martinez, A.

Absent:   None

 

.233619.1

Z:\2026 Session\CommitteeReports\HB0127HC1.wpd