State Overview: New Mexico

Prior authorization requirements are up to the discretion of the state Medicaid program or insurance company.

New Mexico credentials two types of addiction counselors. Licensed Substance Abuse Associates requires, at minimum, an associate degree in a qualifying field, 90 hours of relevant education courses and supervised experience. A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor requires, at minimum, an associate degree, 276 hours of relevant education courses and 3,000 hours of experience. A higher-level degree can substitute the number of hours (i.e. a person with a bachelor's degree needs 2,000 hours). N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-9A and New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board

Clinical mental health counselors assess and provide diagnostic descriptions of mental, emotional or behavioral conditions. Counselors explore possible solutions and develop and implement a treatment plan for mental, emotional and psychosocial adjustment or development. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-9A-3(Q)

The standards for the certification of peer support workers, including experience, training, and supervision requirements, are developed and administered by a third-party, non-profit certification provider.

Full independent practice and prescriptive authority.

Practice by NMs encompasses independently providing a full range of primary health care services for women from adolescence to beyond menopause. They conduct physical examinations; independently prescribe, distribute, and administer dangerous drugs, devices, and contraceptive methods, and controlled substances in Schedules II-V. N.M. Admin. Code §16.11.2.10

Full independent practice and prescriptive authority.

An NP is licensed by the State Board of Nursing. NPs may independently prescribe prescription drugs and Schedules II-V controlled substances. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-3-23.2(B)(2)

NPs are authorized to sign medical orders for scope of treatment forms. N.M. Admin. Code §7.27.6.7

NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. NPs may serve as a primary acute, chronic long-term and end-of-life health care provider and as necessary collaborate with licensed medical doctors, osteopathic physicians or podiatrists. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-3-23.2(B)(3)

Physician relationship required for practice authority; full independent prescription authority.

New Mexico opted out of the CRNA federal supervision requirement in 2002.

CRNAs shall function in an interdependent role as a member of a health care team in which the medical care of the patient is directed by a licensed physician, osteopathic physician, dentist or podiatrist licensed in New Mexico. The CRNA shall collaborate with the licensed physician, osteopathic physician, dentist or podiatrist concerning the anesthesia care of the patient. “Collaboration” means the process in which each health care provider contributes relevant expertise and includes systematic formal planning and evaluation between health care professionals involved in the collaborative practice arrangement. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 61-3-23.3(D)-(E)

A CRNA who has fulfilled the requirements for prescriptive authority in anesthesia practice is authorized to prescribe and administer therapeutic measures, including dangerous drugs and controlled substances in Schedules II-V of the Controlled Substances Act. The CRNA may prescribe in accordance with the rules of the nursing board. CRNAs who prescribe shall do so in accordance with the prescriptive authority formulary. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 61-3-23.3(D)-(E)

Optometrists may remove or drain superficial eyelid lesions and conjunctival cysts. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-2-2

Optometrists may administer all pharmaceutical agents for the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, including epinephrine auto-injections to counter anaphylaxis. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-2-10.2

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and also Schedule II hydrocodone or hydrocodone combination medications. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-2-10.2

A dental hygienist may practice in any setting with a collaborative agreement and can own or manage a collaborative dental hygiene practice. The dental hygienist must enter into a written agreement with a dentist that contains protocols for care and must meet experience requirements. No supervision is required to apply topical fluorides and remineralization agents in certain settings. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-5A-4(C) and N.M. Admin. Code §16.5.17

Dental therapists is a licensed dental hygienist who holds a degree from a dental therapy education program. The dental therapists works under a practice agreement with a supervising dentist. The agreement outlines the parameters of care, level of supervision and protocols to be followed while performing dental therapy procedures on patients. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-5A-3

Teledentistry means a dentist's, dental hygienist's or dental therapist's use of electronic information, imaging and communication technologies, including interactive audio, video and data communications as well as store-and-forward technologies, to provide and support dental health care delivery, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of dental data and education. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-5A-3

New Mexico has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act allowed pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

New Mexico does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

A pharmacist must complete a training course in the subject area of hormonal contraception drug therapy and must include instruction in specific content areas. The pharmacist must also complete continuing education requirements every two years. A written protocol for hormonal contraception drug therapy must be approved by the Board of Pharmacy. Prescriptive authority for hormonal contraception drug therapy includes drugs outlined in the written protocol. N.M. Admin. Code §16.19.26.13

A pharmacist must complete a training course in the subject area of tobacco cessation drug therapy and must include instruction in specific content areas. The pharmacist must also complete continuing education requirements every two years. A written protocol for tobacco cessation drug therapy must be approved by the Board of Pharmacy. Prescriptive authority for tobacco cessation drug therapy includes prescription and non-prescription therapies. N.M. Admin. Code §16.19.26.10

Collaboration allowed with a physician for practice and prescriptive authority.

A PA shall not practice medicine until the PA has established a supervising or collaborating relationship with a licensed physician in accordance with rules promulgated by the board. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-6C-3(G)

"Collaboration" means the process by which a licensed physician and a PA jointly contribute to the health care and medical treatment of patients. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-6-6

PAs may prescribe, administer, dispense and distribute dangerous drugs other than controlled substances in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act pursuant to rules adopted by the board after consultation with the board of pharmacy if the prescribing, administering, dispensing and distributing are done with the supervision of a licensed physician or in collaboration with a licensed physician. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-6C-3(C)

Statute does not limit the number of PAs a physician may supervise.

A physician may supervise as many physician assistants as the physician can effectively supervise and communicate with in the circumstances of their particular practice setting. N.M. Admin. Code §16.10.15.10(A)

New Mexico does not currently have any provisions related to chart review or co-chart signatures.

Statute allows adaptable proximity.

Collaboration shall not be construed to require the physical presence of the licensed physician at the time and place services are rendered; […] N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-6-6(C)

The PA may only perform the acts and duties assigned by the supervising physician that are within the scope of practice of the physician. N.M. Stat. Ann. §61-6-7(D)