new mexico Advocacy
Government affairs committee
Did you know we have a Government Affairs Committee? We concentrate on legislative activities throughout the year and especially during the Legislative Session. We meet several times per year, usually in conjunction with board meetings. But we are always working behind the scenes to build relationships with state leadership, other organizations, and key contacts to make sure we build up family medicine as a specialty and improve healthcare for patients and physicians throughout New Mexico. A committee update article is included in each quarterly NMAFP newsletter.
Get Involved
We would love for you to get involved!
Attend a public board meeting or committee meeting. Our next committee meeting is August 8, 2026, 12:00 pm at Tamaya Resort and Spa in the Lecture Hall.
Other opportunities include our annual Doctor of the Day volunteer program that takes place each legislative session. The Doctor of the Day Program is the NMAFP community service to the New Mexico State Legislature. Volunteers work in cooperation with the New Mexico Medical Society and serve a day (or more). DOD volunteers provide medical evaluation and care, and the NMMS provides pharmaceutical support when indicated. During the day volunteers, including Residents and Students shadowing volunteers, can observe the legislative sessions, provide testimony on behalf of the New Mexico Academy (only on issues of direct relevance to the Academy) and generally learn about the legislative process. Click here for more information about this program.
New Mexico Legislative Updates
Each year we ask our members to participate in a legislative priorities survey to help us focus on what is important to you.
The 2026 legislative session was active and productive. See below for the weekly updates.
Insights from the NMAFP Legislative Survey 2026
The NMAFP extends heartfelt gratitude to all participants of the 2026 Legislative Survey. The insights gathered identified key priorities that will guide our advocacy efforts during the 2026 legislative session.Identified Priorities
The survey responses established four priority areas:- Medical Malpractice Reform: Legislation that would make medical malpractice premiums more affordable and sustainable while safeguarding physicians’ right to a meaningful, due-process role in claims and upholding patients’ right to timely, reasonable compensation.
- Recruitment and Retention of Physicians: Legislation that would provide funding and policies for recruitment and retention of physicians, such as Interstate Compacts.
- Tax credits for rural practitioners: Increase the amount of tax credits for rural practitioners.
- Loan Repayment: Expand loan repayment for physicians as a recruitment tool for coming to New Mexico to practice.
Weekly UpdatesOur 2025 priorities were:
- Recruit and retain physicians, including support primary care residencies
- Medical malpractice reform
- Pharmaceutical costs containment
- Costs in the business of medicine: eliminate GRT on medical services, Medicaid payment increases
You can view detailed information on the many bills we followed in Santa Fe by viewing the following links:
Additional Resources
The NMMS website: www.nmms.org has briefing papers of priority issues physicians are following at the session. Please sign up for “Your Voice for Medicine” which gives weekly updates on legislation, calls for action and key hearing schedules.
The New Mexico Legislature website has a wealth of information. To find your legislator, go to www.nmlegis.gov. From the top menu click on Legislators. A drop-down menu will appear. Click on “Find my Legislator.” On the “Find Your Legislator” page, select “Search by Name, District, or Zip Code” for either House of Representatives or Senate. Enter your Zip Code. If you know your district number, you can enter that as well. The results will show a list of possible representatives and senators that represent your Zip Code. If there are multiple representatives listed for your specific Zip Code, then you will have to call your county clerk to complete your search.
To find or track a bill: Go to www.nmlegis.gov. From the top menu click on Legislation. A drop-down menu will appear offering various options to search for legislation. Choose the desired option to begin your search. Select “Number” if you know the bill number. In the Session drop-down menu select “2025 Regular”. Select either House or Senate in the Chamber drop-down menu. In the Type drop-down menu select the bill “Type”; bill, memorial, etc. Enter the bill number and select “search.” If you do not know the bill number, you can conduct a search using the “Key Words” option; for example, using the word “health.” For help with bill terms and abbreviations, go to Quick Links from the top menu and select the desired link from the drop-down menu.
National Advocacy
ADVOCACY
Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, H.R. 8163
H.R. 8163 promotes reimbursement stability and protects physicians by:
Modernize the $20 million budget neutrality, providing a long overdue threshold increase to $54.3 million, and indexing it every five years based on the cumulative percentage increase in the Medical Economic Index (MEI).
Requiring CMS to regularly evaluate medical practice costs to prevent large swings in payment rates.
Directing CMS to correct major errors in billing code estimates by reviewing actual claims data and making prospective rate adjustments.
Urge your congress representative to support commonsense Medicare payment reforms by cosponsoring this bipartisan bill.
CMS 2027 Medicare advantage and part d rule
CMS released the final 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D rule. These ten notes offer a fast look at the most important changes.
FamMedPAC
The Family Medicine PAC is the American Academy of Family Physicians’ federal political action committee—the specialty’s voice on Capitol Hill. It is the PAC dedicated to supporting family physicians, their patients, and their practices. Learn More
Donors make a difference
Your financial contribution to FamMedPAC goes toward electing members of Congress who will fight for family medicine. When you donate to FamMedPAC, you:
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strengthen our advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.,
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help build relationships with key legislators, and
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ensure family medicine’s prominence as issues are debated.
The Family Medicine Advocacy Summit
Stand with family medicine in Washington. The Family Medicine Advocacy Summit (FMAS) gives you a powerful voice on federal issues that shape your work. Explore the event here. NMAFP has funds to support sending members. Learn more and apply here.
Advocacy: Fighting for Family Medicine
NMAFP, other state chapters, and the AAFP advocate for better policies both nationally and at the state level. Our government affairs committee works throughout the year meeting with our state’s legislative members and other advocacy organizations trying to lay the foundation for meaningful policies during the legislative session. Curious about family medicine in New Mexico? Click here to download a fact sheet.
Are you interested in joining? Contact us today for more information on how you can involved.
AAFP Advocacy rounds
Welcome to Family Medicine Advocacy Rounds — the American Academy of Family Physicians monthly tip sheet to educate, engage and update you on the latest policy issues affecting family physicians and their patients. Click the drop down menu below to view and download monthly updates.
AAFP Speak Out
Have a minute? Use the AAFP Speak Out tool to amplify your voice and help shape the future of family medicine. Click Here
AAFP Voices
Stay informed with blogs from the AAFP president, leadership, and members. Delve into career growth, advocacy, and other insider topics. Click Here
Advocacy Ambassadors Program
Build relationships with federal lawmakers and connect the dots between the laws passed in Washington, D.C., and their effects on practicing family medicine. Learn more
Congressional Primary Care Caucus
This bipartisan caucus educates members of Congress and their staffs on critical primary care issues affecting their districts and advocates for policies that strengthen primary care. Click Here
Congressional bill tracking
The Academy tracks congressional bills with the potential to affect family physicians and knows where your legislators stand on these issues. If your representative or senators have yet to co-sponsor a piece of legislation, speak out and advocate on behalf of family medicine. Lean more
Stay up to date with national advocacy efforts
The Academy is advocating on your behalf. You can stay up to date with national advocacy efforts by visiting here.