The Regular Legislative Session was very Successful for NMPhA.Our Legislative Committee had two major items on the agenda during this thirty day Session: (items 1 & 2 below) 1. Repeal of the Gross Receipts Tax on Prescriptions. This tax is difficult to collect from some third-party payers and this results in an automatic loss of around six percent on each prescription. The Governor signed HB 100 sponsored by Representative Jerry Sandel from Farmington which included Repeal of Gross Receipts on Prescriptions as well as other tax relief. The Governor also also signed SB 47 sponsored by Senator Phillip Maloof of Sandoval County which also repeals this burdensome tax. 2. The “Patient Protection Act,” HB 361 sponsored by Representative Ed Sandoval from Bernalillo County was signed by the Governor. This will provide some patient protection. It prohibits gag orders and provides other patient protections. There was a partial veto of this bill. 3. Department of Health Issue. We were able to get an amendment to HB 402 to allow practitioners authorized by their acts to perform immunizations for the Department of Health. 4. Child Health Act. There was a Senate Bill and a House Bill which were identical. The bills authorized the Human Services Department to start a program to provide Medicaid benefits to children in families with incomes up to 235% of the federal poverty level. This will be a substantial impact on New Mexico families and their ability to get health care for their children. For more about Legislation:Go to the New Mexico Legislature Home Page. You can access copies of Legislation and other valuable information. |
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