NMDDSS Recognized by AAD as 2024 Model State Organization

Thank you to Our 2026 Spring Conference Attendees, Speakers and Sponsors

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American Academy of Dermatology Issues First-Ever Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Guidelines, Highlighting Prevention Strategies and Effective Treatments

For the first time in its history, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has published guidelines of care for both the prevention and management of atopic dermatitis (commonly known as eczema) in pediatric patients. While pediatric and adult eczema share similarities, these guidelines recognize the unique safety, dosing, and patient-caregiver-clinician interactions of individuals under the age of 18.  Read More

New Mexico Medical Malpractice Reform

In March, the New Mexico Senate passed House Bill 99 (Medical Malpractice Changes) by a vote of 40–2. After the bill advanced through the Senate Judiciary Committee with amendments that raised serious concerns for physicians and patient access to care, the full Senate removed those amendments on the Senate floor and passed the House-approved version of House Bill 99. The bill now heads to the Governor’s Office for signature.

Generally the bill addressed the following:

• Narrows the definition of occurrence with the goal of one incidence meaning one claim
• Prohibits lump sum payouts by the Patient Compensation Fund
• Addresses phantom damages by defining medical costs as those actual expenses paid, rather than those that are billed
• Enhances the standard of evidence to award punitive damages from “preponderance of evidence” (lowest bar) to “clear and convincing” (middle bar).
• States that a claim for punitive damages may be asserted by amendment to the pleadings only after the plaintiff has presented sufficient evidence to the court that it is more likely than not that the claim has a triable issue after substantial completion of discovery. (The goal is to prevent punitive damages from being alleged at the outset of medical malpractice allegations, which is happening in 92% of lawsuits)
• Keeps hospitals in the Patient Compensation Fund permanently.
• Establishes Punitive Damages Caps
  • Punitive Cap = 1x compensatory (+CPI) for Independent providers, Independent outpatient health care facilities and the facility’s employees, locum tenens providers and agency nurses, A hospital operated by a New Mexico resident or domestic corporation that is not part of a hospital system and the hospital’s employees, locum tenens providers and agency nurses, Employees, locum tenens providers and agency nurses of a hospital or a hospital-controlled outpatient health care facility
  • Punitive cap = 2.5x compensatory cap (+ CPI) for Hospital systems, Hospitals not owned by a New Mexico resident or domestic corporation

NMDDSS Recognized by AAD as 2024 Model State Organization

Thank you to 2026 Spring Conference Attendees, Speakers and Sponsors

News

American Academy of Dermatology Issues First-Ever Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Guidelines, Highlighting Prevention Strategies and Effective Treatments

For the first time in its history, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has published guidelines of care for both the prevention and management of atopic dermatitis (commonly known as eczema) in pediatric patients. While pediatric and adult eczema share similarities, these guidelines recognize the unique safety, dosing, and patient-caregiver-clinician interactions of individuals under the age of 18.  Read More

New Mexico Medical Malpractice Reform

In March, the New Mexico Senate passed House Bill 99 (Medical Malpractice Changes) by a vote of 40–2. After the bill advanced through the Senate Judiciary Committee with amendments that raised serious concerns for physicians and patient access to care, the full Senate removed those amendments on the Senate floor and passed the House-approved version of House Bill 99. The bill now heads to the Governor’s Office for signature.

Generally the bill addressed the following:

• Narrows the definition of occurrence with the goal of one incidence meaning one claim
• Prohibits lump sum payouts by the Patient Compensation Fund
• Addresses phantom damages by defining medical costs as those actual expenses paid, rather than those that are billed
• Enhances the standard of evidence to award punitive damages from “preponderance of evidence” (lowest bar) to “clear and convincing” (middle bar).
• States that a claim for punitive damages may be asserted by amendment to the pleadings only after the plaintiff has presented sufficient evidence to the court that it is more likely than not that the claim has a triable issue after substantial completion of discovery. (The goal is to prevent punitive damages from being alleged at the outset of medical malpractice allegations, which is happening in 92% of lawsuits)
• Keeps hospitals in the Patient Compensation Fund permanently.
• Establishes Punitive Damages Caps
  • Punitive Cap = 1x compensatory (+CPI) for Independent providers, Independent outpatient health care facilities and the facility’s employees, locum tenens providers and agency nurses, A hospital operated by a New Mexico resident or domestic corporation that is not part of a hospital system and the hospital’s employees, locum tenens providers and agency nurses, Employees, locum tenens providers and agency nurses of a hospital or a hospital-controlled outpatient health care facility
  • Punitive cap = 2.5x compensatory cap (+ CPI) for Hospital systems, Hospitals not owned by a New Mexico resident or domestic corporation