Summary:

 House Bill117 (HB117) relates to vital statistics by allowing physician assistants to certify the death of a patient.  

Legislation Overview:

 House Bill117 (HB117) modifies Section 24-14-20 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1961, Chapter 44, Section 18, to read that completions of a death certificate shall be completed and signed within forty-eight hours after death by the physician, a nurse practitioner or a physicians assistant in charge of the patients care. 
Other new references to the addition of “physician’s assistant” will now read: “in the absence of the physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant with the physician’s, the nurse practitioner's or the physician assistant's approval, the medical certification may be completed and signed by the physician's associate physician, the nurse practitioner's associate nurse practitioner, the physician assistant's associate physician assistant “.
The reference above of to Section 24-14-20 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1961, Chapter 44, Section 18, having to do with vital statistics and specifically death registration. The completions of death certificates within required time frames have not changed. 
 

Amendments:

 Amended February 5,2025 in HHSC
House Bill 117a (HB117a) has received a Do Pass by the Health and Human Services Committee as amended, by making the following changes. On page 1 line12 expanding the language to read, “AMENDING THE REQUIRMENTS FOR REFERRALS TO THE STATE MEDICAL INVESTIGAGATOR”.
On page 4, line 24, the amendment changes the days for referral to the medical examiner after treatment by a physician from ten days to one-hundred eighty days after treatment. In addition new language strikes the term treated and inserts “provided a medical examination medical advice or a prescription for medication” .
Also, on line 25 on page 4, the term physician is to be preceded by the term “primary care” and after the term “physician “insert “physicians assistant, or nurse practitioner “. 
The paragraph will now read: When death occurs without medical attendance as set forth in Subsection C or D of this section or when death occurs more than “one hundred eighty days” after the decedent was last treated by a “primary care” physician, “physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner” the case shall be referred to the state medical investigator…”
On page 5, line 2, after the period, insert: "If a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner is unable to certify the cause of death for a decedent by reasonably ascertaining the cause of death from the decedent's medical history, the case shall be referred to the state medical investigator for investigation to determine and certify the cause of death.".,
The amended bill now is referred to the Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee.