New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII, Issue 1 / January 13, 2026

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

The New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration (“WCA”) will conduct an in-person public hearing on the adoption of new WCA rules on:

Friday, February 27, 2026, 1:30 p.m., Workers’ Compensation Administration, 2410 Centre Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.

A copy of the proposed changes may be found on the WCA website at: http://www.workerscomp.nm.gov/. For a copy by e-mail, contact the WCA General Counsel Office at gc.clerk@wca.nm.gov. For a copy by mail, please submit a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your request to WCA General Counsel Office, 2410 Centre Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. Comments should be sent to WCA General Counsel Office, 2410 Centre Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 or gc.clerk@wca.nm.gov.

Comments may be made at the public hearing, and written comments will be accepted between February 13, 2026 8:00 am until 5:00pm on March 17, 2026. The Director will take all comments into consideration.

Purpose and summary of the Proposed Rules:

The WCA is proposing to amend its rules regarding:

Part 4, Claims Resolution, Section 11.4.4.15 (Approval of Attorney Fees and Liens) to prescribe with greater particularity the elements required to be pled in an attorney fee petition when the amount sought is contested or equal to or greater than the statutory attorney fee cap.

Part 7, Payments for Health Care Services, Section 11.4.7.12 (Inpatient Admissions, Case Management and Utilization Review) to clarify the obligations of a nurse case manager when communicating during nurse case management services assigned by the WCA.

All proposed rules will take effect April 7, 2026.

The Director of the WCA has authority to adopt reasonable rules pursuant to Section 52-5-4 NMSA 1978 (2003).

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any form of auxiliary aide or service to attend or attend or participate in the hearing or meetings, please contact the General Counsel Office at gc.clerk@wca.nm.gov. Or you may inquire about assistance through the New Mexico relay network at 1-800-659-1779 or https:sharenm.org/relay-new-mexico.