Policy Initiatives

The Greater Albuquerque Medical Association (GAMA) is dedicated to advocating for reforms that prioritize patients’ needs and strengthen New Mexico’s health care system. Below are our 2025 legislative priorities:

Ensuring Medical Malpractice Awards Prioritize Patients
Cap on Attorney’s Fees

The Greater Albuquerque Medical Association supports enacting a cap on attorney fees, modeled after successful reforms in other states, to ensure that malpractice awards are focused on helping patients recover and manage their medical expenses. Medical malpractice awards should primarily benefit injured patients, not disproportionately go to attorneys. Currently, up to 40% of these awards are taken in legal fees, leaving many patients without sufficient resources for long-term care.

Reforming Punitive Damages to Enhance Patient Safety
Enhance the Legal Standard and Implement Caps

The Greater Albuquerque Medical Association supports reforming punitive damages in medical malpractice cases to focus on patient safety and equitable outcomes. This includes raising the legal standard for awarding punitive damages, capping the amount that can be awarded, and using a portion of the funds to improve health care quality and outcomes. These changes ensure punitive damages are reserved for clear cases of gross negligence, stabilize malpractice premiums, and fund patient safety programs.

Protecting Patients with Stable and Predictable Compensation
End Lump-Sum Payouts

The Greater Albuquerque Medical Association supports restoring the practice of providing medical malpractice payouts as expenses are incurred, rather than allowing lump-sum payouts. Lump-sum payouts for future medical expenses often leave patients vulnerable, as significant portions of these payouts can go to attorneys or be depleted due to inaccurate cost estimates.

Securing a Sustainable Future for New Mexico’s Health Care
Create a Permanent Fund for Health Care

The Greater Albuquerque Medical Association endorses the creation of a Permanent Fund for Health Care to secure sustainable, long-term funding for New Mexico’s health care system to address the chronic underfunding of health care and the provider shortage in New Mexico. This fund would generate hundreds of millions annually to support Medicaid, address provider shortages, and fund critical health care reforms. By securing a sustainable revenue stream, this initiative will reduce reliance on oil and gas revenues and ensure a healthier future for all New Mexicans.

Expanding Access to Medical Specialists and Telehealth
Join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

The Greater Albuquerque Medical Association supports New Mexico joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) to expand access to medical care and help address the state’s critical shortage of health care providers. The IMLC creates a trusted pathway to expedite the licensing of physicians already licensed to practice in one state, who seek to practice medicine in multiple states. Adoption of the IMLC is a way to help modernize the state licensure system and promote uniformity in requirements for state licensure. The IMLC can be instrumental in providing physicians interested in caring for patients across state lines via telehealth a pathway to obtain licensure in other states.

A Tax-Free Path To Better Health Care Access
Permanently Exempting Medical Services from the Gross Receipts Tax

The Greater Albuquerque Medical Association supports permanently exempting medical services from New Mexico’s Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) to attract and retain more doctors. Removing this financial burden makes New Mexico a more competitive and appealing place for health care providers, addressing the state’s critical shortage of medical professionals. By ensuring that medical services remain exempt from the GRT, New Mexico can reduce operating costs for providers, enabling them to focus on delivering high-quality care. This reform not only helps retain current practitioners but also attracts new talent, which is essential for expanding access to care in underserved communities.

Safeguarding Patient Safety
Defend Against Inappropriate Expansion of Scope of Practice

GAMA is committed to ensuring that all patients receive care led by qualified physicians. Inappropriate expansions of nonphysician health care providers' scope of practice can compromise patient safety. By opposing such expansions, we aim to maintain the highest standards of medical care, ensuring that patients benefit from the expertise and oversight that qualified physicians can provide. This approach prioritizes patient safety and upholds the quality of health care in New Mexico.

Our Commitment

At the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association, we are committed to advocating for reforms that put patients first and ensure all New Mexicans have access to high-quality, reliable health care. We invite our members and the public to learn more about these initiatives and join us in supporting these critical changes.

For more information or to get involved, please contact us at Jason.Espinoza@gamamed.org.