The House Appropriations and Finance Committee voted Feb. 28 to advance a bill that aims to entice health care workers back to New Mexico after graduating from New Mexico institutions and leaving the state.
House Bill 15, sponsored by Albuquerque Democratic Rep. Marianna Anaya, would create a “health care strategic recruitment program” that would help bring back health care providers who don’t currently work in health care in the state and graduated from New Mexico universities within the last 10 years. The program would also compile data about providers who have left the state.
The committee removed a $2 million appropriation from the bill because the Legislature’s budget proposal already allocated that funding.
Six public commenters — including a trial lawyer along with representatives of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the New Mexico Hospital Association, the League of Women Voters and the University of New Mexico — spoke in favor of the bill. Nobody spoke against it.
“We have a health care crisis in the state,” Jason Weaks, a lobbyist for the New Mexico Hospital Association, said. “We have a lack of every type of health care staff you can imagine. Really, the only way we’re going to be able to dig ourselves out of that hole is by being proactive.”
Four representatives, including one Democrat, expressed hesitations about the bill.
Brown and Pettigrew were the only committee members to vote against the bill, which will be heard next on the House floor.