Committee backs allowing physician assistants, nurse practitioners to sign death certificates with clarifying amendment

The House Health & Human Services Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 117 as amended, which would permit physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) to sign death certificates when they have treated or reasonably ascertained the cause of death.

Representative Chavez presented the bill on behalf of Representative Ferrari and moved an amendment to clarify definitions and referral procedures to the state medical investigator. The amendment added a definition of “treated” (for example, having provided medical examination, advice or a prescription) and inserted “primary care physician” and explicit inclusion of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the list of clinicians authorized to certify death.

The amendment also created a referral requirement: if a certifying clinician (physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner) cannot certify cause of death after reasonably ascertaining the cause from medical history, the case shall be referred to the state medical investigator for investigation and certification.

Public comment: Keith Romero, registered lobbyist for the New Mexico Academy of Physician Assistants, spoke in support and thanked Representative Ferrari for carrying the bill. No one in opposition testified.

Committee action: Committee members made a motion and voted to recommend a due pass for HB 117, as amended; the roll call later showed a 9–0 committee vote to pass the amended bill.

Ending: Committee members noted they could not vote when a quorum was not present at the start but that the amendment clarifies scope and reduces ambiguity about referrals to the state medical investigator.