HM 63

                                1  HOUSE MEMORIAL 63
                                2    57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026
                                3  INTRODUCED BY
                                4  Dayan Hochman-Vigil
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                                10  A MEMORIAL
                                11   EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR
                                12   CERTIFIED ADVANCED PRACTICE CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIANS TO INCLUDE
                                13   PRIMARY CARE SERVICES TO ADDRESS NEW MEXICO'S PRIMARY CARE
                                14   SHORTAGE AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
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                                16        WHEREAS, New Mexico is experiencing a critical shortage of
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                                17   primary care providers, particularly in rural and underserved
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                                18   areas; and
                                19        WHEREAS, chiropractic physicians in this state are highly
                                20   trained health care professionals who complete rigorous
                                21   academic and clinical education, including nearly four years of
                                22   pre-medical undergraduate coursework and five years of
                                23   doctoral-level chiropractic education; and
                                24        WHEREAS, New Mexico is a national leader in chiropractic
                                25   innovation, having established the advanced practice
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                                1    chiropractic certification, which provides chiropractic
                                2    physicians limited prescriptive authority for therapeutic and
                                3    diagnostic services; and
                                4  WHEREAS, certified advanced practice chiropractic
                                5    physicians are contributing to primary health care teams in
                                6    community health centers and United States department of
                                7    veterans affairs clinics across the state by helping to manage
                                8    musculoskeletal and systemic conditions, ordering diagnostic
                                9    tests and prescribing medications; and
                                10        WHEREAS, expanding the scope of certified advanced
                                11   practice chiropractic physicians to formally include primary
                                12   care services would enhance access to timely, cost-effective
                                13   and holistic care for New Mexico residents, especially in rural
                                14   and underserved areas; and
                                15        WHEREAS, the New Mexico chiropractic association has
                                16   developed a two-tiered certification system to allow certified
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                                17   advanced practice chiropractic physicians to provide primary
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                                18   care services while ensuring appropriate training, clinical
                                19   competency and regulatory oversight; and
                                20        WHEREAS, the New Mexico chiropractic association's
                                21   proposed certification system aligns with national trends
                                22   toward integrative, team-based care and recognizes the evolving
                                23   competencies of chiropractic physicians in addressing chronic
                                24   disease and providing preventive care;
                                25        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
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                                1    REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the house of
                                2    representatives support the expansion of the scope of practice
                                3    for properly trained and educated certified advanced practice
                                4    chiropractic physicians to include primary care services; and
                                5  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the house of representatives
                                6    encourage the chiropractic board to continue developing and
                                7    refining certification standards and clinical training and
                                8    continuing education requirements to ensure the safe and
                                9    effective delivery of primary care by certified advanced
                                10   practice chiropractic physicians; and
                                11        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
                                12   transmitted to the governor, the secretary of health, the
                                13   superintendent of regulation and licensing and the chiropractic
                                14   board.
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