New Mexico House Passes Bill to Address Healthcare Access Crisis

HB 99 aims to stabilize malpractice insurance rates and attract more doctors to the state

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The New Mexico House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 99 (HB 99) on a 66-3 vote, a move aimed at addressing the state's growing healthcare access challenges. The bill, a key priority for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, seeks to rein in medical malpractice claims and encourage physicians to practice – and stay – in New Mexico.

Why it matters

New Mexico is grappling with a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, with a deficit of over 5,000 providers. A staggering 32 of 33 counties are experiencing critical gaps in care. The situation is so dire that over 65% of physicians currently practicing in the state are reportedly considering leaving, with the high cost of medical malpractice insurance and fear of punitive damages cited as primary reasons.

The details

HB 99 establishes tiered caps on punitive damages in medical malpractice cases. These caps are scaled based on the size of the medical practice or facility: approximately $1 million for independent providers and clinics, $6 million for locally owned hospitals, and $15 million for larger hospital systems. The legislation also raises the evidentiary standard required to win punitive damage claims to 'clear and convincing' evidence and mandates judicial review before such claims can proceed to trial.

  • The New Mexico House of Representatives passed HB 99 on a 66-3 vote.
  • The current 30-day legislative session concludes at noon on Thursday.

The players

Michelle Lujan Grisham

The Governor of New Mexico who has made HB 99 a key priority.

New Mexico House of Representatives

The state legislative body that overwhelmingly passed HB 99.

New Mexico Hospital Association

The organization that has endorsed HB 99.

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What they’re saying

“With this bill, we're not choosing between patients and providers – we're choosing both.”

— Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico

What’s next

The Senate will now consider HB 99 before the end of the current legislative session.

The takeaway

HB 99 aims to address New Mexico's severe healthcare provider shortage by stabilizing malpractice insurance rates and making the state more attractive for doctors to practice, which could ultimately improve access to care for residents.