SB 471 is dead for this legislative session but proponents vow to fight again
New Mexico Senate Bill 471 was tabled by the New Mexico Senate Public Affairs Committee meaning that the Bill is dead for this legislative session.
Within the past few weeks thousands of chiropractors were mobilized into action in an effort to defeat the bill which would have changed the name of the profession in New Mexico to Chiropractic Medicine, removed the prohibition on surgical interventions and added controlled substances including narcotics, opiates, depressants and stimulants to the scope of practice of so called “Advanced” chiropractors. Besides the drug issue, SB 471 sought to solidify and expand chiropractors’ role as primary care physicians.
While the conservative, traditional faction of chiropractic celebrated the victory, it stands to be a temporary one. Bill Doggett DC, Past Chairman of the New Mexico Chiropractic Board stated: “We are refining the bill and bringing it back as suggested by the Senators.” Doggett further confronted opposition chiropractic leaders in New Mexico regarding whether they were going to “help or hinder” future committee meetings where they plan on refining the bill.
In response, Derrick Atchley, Vice President of the New Mexico Chiropractic Association stated: “It's hard to help when we are never included in any of the discussions. Even as the Vice President of the NMCA, I have been included in ZERO of the discussions. What do you expect us to do but stand up and fight?”
Doggett has vowed that it’s not a matter of if but only when the drug expansion for chiropractors in New Mexico will be completed.
While this battle may be temporarily over, New Mexico still has “Advanced” Chiropractors licensed there and they still have prescriptive authority for certain drugs.
