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The New Mexico Medical Review Commission was created by the New Mexico Medical Malpractice Act (NMSA 1978 §§ 41-5-1 et seq.), that was enacted in 1976. The Commission provides volunteer panels of medical providers and attorneys to review malpractice claims against qualified medical providers who are covered by the Medical Malpractice Act. Those who are eligible to serve on panels are medical providers who are licensed under New Mexico law and residing in New Mexico, and members of the New Mexico State Bar (whether active or inactive). NMSA 1978 §41-5-14. Generally, each panel consists of three eligible medical providers and three State Bar members. NMSA 1978 §41-5-17. In addition, an attorney chair is appointed for each panel. Hearing procedures are outlined at NMSA 1978 §41-5-19, and described in detail in the Commission’s current policies and procedures posted at https://www.nmms.org/nm-medical-review-commission/.
Volunteer panelists provide an important public service. The Commission relies exclusively on volunteer medical providers and attorneys to serve as hearing panelists. Every month, the Commission surveys prospective panelists to ascertain their availability to serve on panels set for the following month. Panel hearings are held Monday through Thursday at 7:00 p.m. by ZOOM. Because hearings are held by ZOOM, panelists can participate conveniently from wherever they are located. The average case lasts 2½ to 3 hours. Medical records and relevant materials are provided to panelists prior to the hearing in either digital or paper format.
Physicians who volunteer for panel hearing are eligible for four (4) general Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits per panel hearing. Attorneys who volunteer for panel hearings are eligible for one (1) general Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit per panel hearing, up to four (4) credits per year.
Attorneys who are interested in signing up to join the pool of available panelists can do so online by submitting the new panelist form available on the NMMRC website- https://www.nmms.org/nm-medical-review-commission/.