One of the best ways to improve healthcare access

The quickest way to increase access to healthcare in New Mexico is to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

What is an Interstate Compact? Operating since 2017, compacts are agreements between states to recognize medical licenses issued by other states. Their primary goal is to address physician shortages and improve access to healthcare, especially in underserved areas and through telemedicine. Forty states, the District of Columbia and the Territory of Guam have now joined one or more of the compacts, including all five states that border New Mexico.

How do compacts work? The Compact Commission is comprised of members appointed by participating states and oversees the implementation of each compact. New Mexico would be a participant to all compact commissions adopted by our legislature.

Each state retains the right to refuse to recognize a license issued by another state. Participating states have access to a centralized database of disciplinary action records. Providers are subject to the state laws where they provide healthcare; this means that a participating provider from another state, (Arizona, for example) would be subject to New Mexico laws when providing care here.

Which professionals have compacts? Compacts exist for ten healthcare professionals: physicians, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, audiology and speech therapists, emergency medicine specialists, occupational therapists, counselors, physician assistants, dentists, and dental hygienists. 

Participation in the compacts is growing. Thirty-one states have adopted eight compacts. Our neighboring states have adopted at least five of the compacts so that healthcare professionals can easily provide patient services among the states.

New Mexico has only joined the Nurse Licensure Compact. In 2003, we joined forty states granting nurses the privilege to practice in other compact states. In some New Mexico hospitals, especially in rural and border areas, as many as 80% of nurses are practicing because of the Compact.

Why hasn't New Mexico joined more compacts? Each state, upon joining, agrees to the compact language approved by participating states. The New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee wanted to make significant changes to the agreement and include a provision that New Mexico be able to sue the Compact Commissions. 

There is no reason to sue the Commission. Providers within a compact are governed by the same state laws that govern those residing and licensed in New Mexico. Seven of the nine compact bills introduced during the 2025 legislative session passed unanimously in the House but died in the Senate Judiciary. 

What does failure to join the Compact mean? Doctors licensed in other states cannot practice or provide tele-health services in New Mexico. This means that if you or a family member needs a doctor or specialist, and none are available in your community (or within the state), you must travel to another state to access care. Our dire shortage of providers would be eased by joining the compacts. Patients would have a greater choice of providers, including specialists. 

Ask the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee why they chose to not expand your access to healthcare.

Kathe Stark is a member of Patients Primero Steering Committee, which is a nonpartisan group working to educate voters about the healthcare provider shortage and working to improve access to quality healthcare for New Mexicans.