New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVI, Issue 4 / February 25, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The New Mexico Department of Health (“Department”) will hold a public hearing on the proposed adoption of a new rule concerning school-based health centers, to be designated as 7.30.15 NMAC. The hearing will be held on March 28, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. via the Microsoft Teams Internet-based video conferencing system, and via telephone. Members of the public who wish to submit public comment regarding the proposed rule will be able to do so via video conference and via telephone during the course of the hearing, and by submitting written comment.

The proposed rule proposes various minimum standards and requirements for SBHCs that receive funding from the Department, concerning (but not limited to) the following subjects:

· SBHC operations and services, including location, consent to services, non-discrimination, hours of

operation, and the provision of clinical services;

· Department inspection and oversight of SBHCs;

· Data collection, sharing of data with the Department, and medical record confidentiality;

· Health center certification;

· Staffing;

· Financial sustainability;

· Requests for waivers of rule requirements; and

· Disciplinary actions, the hearings process, and final decisions on proposed disciplinary actions.

The purpose of the proposed rule is to implement Section 24-1-44 NMSA 1978 of the Public Health Act, which requires that the Department provide funding, technical assistance, clinical oversight, and other necessary support for the creation and operation of school-based health centers (SBHCs).

The legal authority authorizing the proposed rule is Subsection E of Section 9-7-6 NMSA 1978, and Subsection F of Section 24-1-44 NMSA 1978.

A free copy of the full text of the proposed rule can be obtained online from the New Mexico Department of Health’s website at http://nmhealth.org/about/asd/cmo/rules/ or by contacting the Department using the contact information below.

The public hearing will be conducted to receive public comment on the proposed rule. Any interested member of the public may attend the hearing and may submit data, views, or arguments on the proposed rule either orally or in writing during the hearing.

To access the hearing via the Internet: please go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting, then enter the following meeting i.d. code and passcode where indicated on the screen: meeting i.d. code 261 704 461 719, passcode m4tw78vd. Then click the “Join a meeting” button.

To access the hearing by telephone: please call 1-505-312-4308, phone conference i.d. 513269699#

All comments will be recorded.

Written public comment regarding the proposed rule can be submitted either by e-mail to Stephanie Lopez at stephanie.lopez@doh.nm.gov, or U.S. postal mail to the following address:

Stephanie Lopez

NMDOH OGC

P.O. Box 26110

1190 St. Francis Dr., Suite N-4095

Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110

Written comments must be received by the close of the public rule hearing on March 28, 2025. All written comments will be published on the agency website at https://www.nmhealth.org/about/asd/cmo/rules/ within 3 days of receipt, and will be available at the New Mexico Department of Health for public inspection.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of special assistance or accommodations to attend or participate in the hearing, please contact Stephanie Lopez by telephone at (505) 690-3689. The Department requests at least ten (10) days’ advance notice to provide special accommodation.