SENATE MEMORIAL 16

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Stephen H. Fischmann

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE DENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT TO ALLOW RETIRED DENTISTS COVERAGE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S MALPRACTICE INSURANCE.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has a shortage of dental professionals, especially in rural and frontier areas; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico dental students still receive their training in other states and often move elsewhere to open their practices; and

     WHEREAS, excellent dentists from beyond New Mexico's borders often retire in the land of enchantment; and

     WHEREAS, many of these new New Mexico dentists are willing and able to provide dental health care on a charity or stipend basis, but they risk lawsuits if they do;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to study ways to allow such new New Mexico dentists to practice, ways to include them in the department of health's malpractice insurance and ways to issue limited licensing and limited continuing education credit requirements so that they may practice without significant expense or liability; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health.

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