NM SB16

Health care entities are prohibited from directly or indirectly interfering with, controlling, or directing the professional judgment or clinical decisions of health care providers, except as required by licensing or accreditation requirements

Protected clinical decisions include determining appropriate diagnostic tests, deciding on referrals to other providers, being responsible for overall patient care and treatment options, and setting how many patients a provider sees in a given time period

Individuals injured by violations may sue in district court for damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, and attorney fees; the Attorney General may also bring enforcement actions when in the public interest

Federally qualified health centers and independent health care practices owned by individual providers are exempt from the law's restrictions

Effective date is July 1, 2026