This bill enacts a new section of the Hospital Funding Act that mandates county hospitals and contracting hospitals to provide a standard of care and affordable payment plans for patients facing life-threatening conditions, such as cancer, under specific circumstances. These circumstances include situations where the patient lacks commercially provided health insurance, does not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, has insurance that is not accepted by the hospital, is ineligible for county indigent programs, and is not eligible for the New Mexico medical insurance pool. The hospitals are required to offer these services as soon as the patient provides necessary documentation to validate their circumstances.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that hospitals must continue to provide care and services, along with the affordable payment plan, until the patient secures any type of coverage listed in the specified circumstances. The payment owed by uninsured patients for treatment will be calculated based on the higher of the Medicaid or Medicare fee schedule for the services provided, and the monthly payment under the affordable payment plan cannot exceed five percent of the patient's monthly household adjusted gross income. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.