House approves bipartisan doctor-licensure compact bill on third reading

The New Mexico House passed Senate Bill 1 on third reading after proponents described the measure as a negotiated bipartisan effort to join an interstate health workforce compact.

Representative Matthews, speaking as the House negotiator for SB 1, said the bill is ‘‘a bipartisan and bicameral effort to negotiate a doctor compact for the state of New Mexico,’’ and described a multi-party negotiation involving House and Senate negotiators and compact managers that began before Thanksgiving. The sponsor said negotiators reached agreement on language to bring the compact to both chambers.

Representative Armstrong, a cosponsor, said SB 1 ‘‘is not a silver bullet’’ but will give the state a tool to recruit physicians; she added that medical malpractice reform would also be needed to address the state’s broader physician shortages. The exchange made clear that while members supported the compact as a recruitment tool, some view it as only one element of a multi-part strategy.

After debate the sponsor moved final passage. The clerk reported the final recorded vote as 64 in the affirmative, 0 in the negative, and the bill ‘‘duly passed this House.’’ The bill will next be sent according to legislative process for enrollment and then to the governor per constitutional procedure.

The bill’s text, legislative council drafting number and specific statutory changes were not read in full on the floor; members and staff indicated the compact language was negotiated among chambers and the compact managers prior to third reading.