New Mexico prohibits providers from submitting Surprise Bills. 

“Surprise Bill” means a bill from a non-participating provider for health care services rendered in the following circumstances, in an amount that exceeds the patient's cost-sharing obligation (i.e. coinsurance and deductible) that would apply for the same health care services if these services had been provided by a participating provider.

1. Emergency care; or
2. Health care services, that are not emergency care, rendered at a participating facility where: 1) a participating provider is unavailable; 2) services are unforeseen services; or 3) the patient has not given specific consent for the particular services;

For non-emergency services, a New Mexico provider with advance knowledge that it is not contracted with the patient's health insurance network shall inform the patient of the provider's nonparticipating status, and advise the advise the patient to contact his or her health plan to discuss patient's options.

Only 13% of the hospitals in New Mexico are compliant with the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule requiring hospitals to publish their prices, according to an independent audit. If you received a bill from a non-compliant hospital, that can be a reason to dispute the bill.

9% of people in New Mexico report having medical debt in a given year, on average.

The average hospital in New Mexico charges 4.3 times what it costs to render the services. That means for every $100 in cost, it bills $500, of which $400 is profit.

NO SURPRISE BILLING
The No Surprises Act protects people using insurance from receiving surprise medical bills when they receive most emergency services, non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, and services from out-of-network air ambulance service providers.

GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE
A medical provider must issue a Good Faith Estimate in advance of services to a patient not using insurance. The Good Faith Estimate is a disclosure of expected services to be rendered and their charges.

BALANCE BILLING - EMERGENCY
A provider may not bill an insured patient for emergency services above the in-network payment responsibilities (coinsurance, deductible, copayment) under insurance benefits.

BALANCE BILLING - AT AN IN NETWORK FACILITY
For services an insured patient receives while visiting a participating hospital or facility, a provider may not bill the patient above the in-network payment responsibilities (coinsurance, deductible, copayment) under insurance benefits.

COLLECTIONS PROTECTIONS
The three nationwide credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – do not include medical debts (1) below $500, or (2) less than a year old on consumer credit reports.