Why We NEED to Pass Interstate Healthcare Compacts Next Session

On February 4th, Governor Lujan Grisham signed two interstate compacts into law after they quickly made it through both the House and Senate. SB 1, Physicians Compact, and HB 50, Social Workers Compact, will make it easier for physicians and social workers with licensure in other states to practice in New Mexico. Interstate compacts allow for healthcare workers licensed in other states to expedite their licensure in New Mexico. These compacts are a key part of addressing the severe healthcare worker shortage in the state. 

While these two compacts made it to the Governor’s desk, eight others were left in limbo. Interstate compacts for physicians assistants, EMS, dental hygienists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and counselors did not get passed during the 30-day session. 

These interstate compacts are not only imperative to lessening healthcare worker shortages in New Mexico, but were promised as part of New Mexico’s application for Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding. In the grant application submitted, the state laid out plans to pass interstate compacts for physicians, EMS, and psychologists during the 2026 session. Further, they presented an implementation date of December 31, 2028. 

To avoid the risk of clawbacks of important federal funding and to bolster our healthcare workforce, our legislature must prioritize passing more interstate compacts in the next legislative session.