The bill amends the existing Rural Health Care Practitioner Tax Credit in New Mexico to expand the list of eligible health care practitioners who can claim the credit. The new legal language includes additional practitioners such as licensed practical nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, chiropractic physicians, and physical therapists. These practitioners will now be eligible for a tax credit of up to $3,000 if they provide health care services for at least 1,584 hours in a rural health care underserved area during a taxable year, with a reduced credit available for those who work between 792 and 1,584 hours.

Additionally, the definition of "eligible health care practitioner" has been updated to include these new professions, ensuring that a broader range of health care providers can benefit from the tax credit. The bill maintains the requirement for practitioners to submit an application to the Department of Health to qualify for the credit, and it mandates the compilation of an annual report on the tax credit's usage and impact. Overall, this legislation aims to incentivize more health care professionals to serve in underserved rural areas, thereby improving access to health care services in those regions.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 7-2-18.22