State of New Mexico
House of Representatives
Ben Lujan, Speaker of the House
Ken Martinez, House Majority Leader
Sheryl Williams Stapleton, House Majority Whip

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                             Contact: Susan Tungate  505-577-8132 March 5, 2009                                                                                                             Victoria Chavez 646-241-5335                                             
Rep. Cote’s Military Retiree Rural Health Care Tax Credit Proposal Passes House, Heads to the Senate

Santa Fe, NM – A bill sponsored by Rep. Nathan Cote (D-Las Cruces) that would create a health care tax credit for military retirees who provide professional health care services in rural and underserved areas in New Mexico passed the House of Representatives today by a unanimous vote of 64-0 . House Bill 655 – Military Retiree Rural Health Care Tax Credit now heads to the Senate for consideration. 

Rep. Cote said, “One of my primary goals is to work towards filling the gap in health care that exists in rural and underserved areas.  I believe any incentive where we can get experienced health care providers to these areas puts us one step closer to doing that.  Retired military health care professionals are extremely well trained and skilled in what they do. If this tax incentive recruits just 20 or 30 of them to underserved areas, it will benefit accessibility to health care for our citizens.”

House Bill 655 would provide a tax credit for an eligible military retiree health care practitioner who provides full time service at a practice site located in a rural health care underserved area.  The tax credit would be up to $5,000 for all eligible physicians, osteopathic physicians, dentists, clinical psychologists, podiatrists and optometrists.  The tax credit would be up to $3,000 for all eligible dental hygienists, physician assistants, certified nurse-midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.  Those who work part time will receive half credit.