Bills Sponsored by Rep. Doreen Gallegos Pass Health Committee
Santa Fe, NM – In a series of unanimous and bipartisan votes the House Health and Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 178, the Nursing Practice Changes Act, and House Bill 214, the Doula Credentialing and Access Act. These bills, both sponsored by Representative Doreen Gallegos of Las Cruces serve to strengthen access to high quality health care in New Mexico.
“These bills help modernize the state’s healthcare system by cutting red tape for providers and increasing access to care for patients,” said Rep. Gallegos. “New Mexicans deserve access to the highest quality healthcare available and the passage of these bills from committee is a step towards fulfilling that promise.”
HB 178 amends the Nursing Practice Act to bring it in line with modern nursing practice. These changes aim to clarify the scope of practice for various categories of licensed nurses, particularly surrounding the administration of anesthetics and sedatives. The bill additionally expands the authority of the state Board of Nursing, modifies and streamlines licensing processes, and enhances the confidentiality of disciplinary actions. The bill also provides for an inactive registered nurse reserve. This reserve will be composed of experienced nurses who are not currently practicing that can be activated for limited functions in an emergency, at no cost to the nurse.
HB 214 directs the Department of Health to create a voluntary doula credentialing process. While this credentialing process will not be mandatory to practice as a doula in the State of New Mexico, it will allow doulas who do become credentialed to enroll as Medicaid providers. In this current fiscal year, the legislature provided the Health Care Authority with funding to provide doula services to Medicaid members. Without a credentialing process, Medicaid enrollees are unable to access these services. HB 214 aims to rectify this as well as creates the Doula Advisory Council within DOH, requires hospitals and freestanding birth centers to enact policies allowing for doulas to accompany patients during specific services, and creates the doula fund to support these initiatives.
Rep. Gallegos has been a strong advocate for health care policy throughout her time in the legislature. In previous sessions, Rep. Gallegos has championed legislation aimed at improving quality and access to care in New Mexico such as the 2024 Health Care Delivery and Access Act.
HB 178 and HB 214 now move to the House Judiciary and House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committees respectively for further consideration.