New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII,
Issue 14 / July 28, 2026
NOTICE
OF PUBLIC HEARING
The
New Mexico Department of Health (“Department”) will hold a public hearing on
the proposed
adoption of a new rule, 7.30.16 NMAC, concerning Doula Credentialing for
Medicaid Reimbursement (“Doula Credentialing”).
The hearing will be held on August 28, 2026 at
11:00 am Mountain time via a live web-based video conference and via telephone.
Members of the public who wish to submit public comment regarding the proposed
rules will be able to do so via video conference or via telephone during the
course of the hearing, and by submitting written comment.
Rule
7.30.16 NMAC is a proposed new rule to establish requirements, processes and
procedures governing voluntary credentialing for doulas to allow them to
receive Medicaid reimbursement.
The
rule includes, but is not limited to, the following:
·
Section
7, “Definitions:” defines various terms used in the rule;
·
Section
8, “General Program Description:” describes voluntary doula credentialing
program, online registry, and grounds for action against a doula credential
(denial, suspension, revocation) generally;
·
Section
9, “Doula Credential Requirements:” sets application, eligibility and
credentialing requirements and application pathways for all applicants seeking
a doula credential from the Department;
·
Section
10, “Doula Scope of Practice:” describes doula scope of practice and prohibits
credentialed doulas from performing clinical tasks or providing medical care;
·
Section
11, “Doula Standards of Practice:” requires credentialed doulas to adhere to
standards of professional conduct, client safety, ethical practice, body
sovereignty and self-determination, and community-based care while providing
services;
·
Section
12, “Application Process:” sets application process requirements, including process
when an application is incomplete and process for doula recredentialing and
credential reinstatement;
·
Section
13, “Application Processing Time Limits:” establishes timelines for the
Department to review and make a determination on new
doula credentialing applications, recredentialing applications, and
applications for reinstatement of credentials;
·
Section
14, “Criminal History Screening:” authorizes the Department to obtain criminal history
records of applicants who otherwise meet eligibility requirements for doula
credentialing and sets criminal history screening procedure for applicants and
the Department.
·
Section
15, “Doula Credentialing Advisory Council:” sets Doula Credentialing Advisory
Council membership and meeting requirements, duties and responsibilities;
·
Section
16, “New Mexico Registry of Credentialed Doulas:” requires the Department to
maintain a registry of credentialed doulas;
·
Section
17, “Credential Review Committee:” establishes a credential review committee to
conduct individualized reviews of grounds for action against a credential and
determine whether to pursue action against a credential, and enumerates grounds
for action against a credential;
·
Section
18, “Hearings:” establishes hearing process for applicants exercising right to
appeal a decision by the Department to deny, suspend, revoke or take other
adverse action against a doula credential, and process for requesting reinstatement
of a suspended or revoked credential;
·
Section
19, “Data Collection and Reports:” establishes data collection and reporting
requirements;
·
Section
20, “Inspection of Records:” requires that certain types of records, including
health information protected by state and federal laws, criminal history
information, and personal identifier information, as that term is used in the
Inspection of Public Records Act, Section 14-2-1.1 NMSA 1978, be maintained in a
confidential manner and states that they are not subject to public inspection.
The purpose of the
proposed rules is to implement the Doula Credentialing and Access Act, sections
24-36-1 through 24-36-8 NMSA 1978.
The legal
authority authorizing the adoption of these rules by the Department are the
Department of Health Act, subsection E of section 9-7-6 NMSA 1978, which
authorizes the secretary of the department of health to “...make and adopt such
reasonable and procedural rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry
out the duties of the department and its divisions”; the Public Health Act, subsection S of
section 24-1-3 NMSA 1978, which authorizes the Department to maintain and
enforce such rules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the
Public Health Act; and the Doula Credentialing and Access Act, at section
24-36-3 NMSA 1978, which
requires the Secretary of the Department to promulgate rules to establish a voluntary
credentialing process to allow doulas to enroll as Medicaid providers.
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 during the hearing or in writing
through the close of the hearing.
The hearing will be held on August 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Mountain time via the Microsoft Teams
online web conference platform.
To access the hearing via the Internet: please go to
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting and then enter
the following meeting i.d. code and passcode where indicated
on the screen: meeting i.d. code 270 590 682 755 07
and passcode As7nT7yn and then click the “Join a meeting” button. To access the hearing by telephone: please
call 1-505-312-4308 and enter phone conference i.d. 224 309 764#.
All comments will be recorded.
Written public
comment regarding the proposed rule can be submitted either by e-mail to Jacob
Clark at jacob.clark@doh.nm.gov, or by U.S. postal mail to the following
address:
Jacob Clark
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 August 28,
2026. 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 and need special assistance or accommodation to attend or
participate in the hearing, please contact Jacob Clark by telephone at (505)
827-2997. The Department requests at
least ten (10) days’ advance notice to provide special accommodation.