January 30, 2026

Media Contact
Jen Paul Schroer
jen@jjsassociates.us

Today, HB 99 advanced out of the House Health & Human Services Committee with a bipartisan VOTE COUNT: 7 to 3 vote. While the bill’s movement reflects recognition of the urgent need to stabilize access to care, the healthcare community and patients remain seriously concerned about an amendment that leaves a considerable number of healthcare organizations fully exposed to uncapped punitive damages — a foundational issue directly affecting provider stability and patient access to care.

We thank Representative Christine Chandler, the bill’s sponsor, for her leadership and for advancing legislation grounded in the real-world experiences of patients and their physicians. HB 99 reflects input from doctors and patients who are confronting delayed care, provider shortages, and an increasingly unstable medical liability environment.

Moreover, Representative Chandler noted that HB 99 is informed by a review of medical malpractice statutory frameworks in states such as California and Colorado, which are widely regarded as national benchmarks for balancing patient protections with stable access to care.

Co-sponsor Representative Gail Armstrong emphasized that HB 99 is a bipartisan measure and highlighted its importance for protecting access to care in rural communities and clinics across New Mexico.

We also appreciate the members of the House Health & Human Services Committee for their thoughtful deliberation and for listening to the voices of patients and their doctors who are working to increase access to care:

By advancing HB 99, the committee recognized that retaining physicians, stabilizing the medical liability system, and protecting patient access to care and patient protections are essential to the health and safety of New Mexico communities. Patients deserve timely, high-quality care — and physicians need a stable environment to continue practicing here.

Patients and the healthcare professionals who care for them look forward to continued engagement as HB 99 advances and remain committed to patient-first solutions that strengthen access to timely care across New Mexico.

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About Patient-Led New Mexico
Patient-Led New Mexico is a nonpartisan, patient-centered initiative dedicated to ensuring that every New Mexican has access to timely, high-quality healthcare. The organization champions collaborative, patient-driven reforms that strengthen and stabilize the state’s healthcare system, uniting patients, providers, communities, and lawmakers in pursuit of meaningful, lasting change.
patientlednm.org