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Is an exam required before a patient can be treated in New Mexico?

Intake · part of The Practice Perimeter

⛔ NEW MEXICO PUTS THE EXAM BEYOND DELEGATION IN SO MANY WORDS. Before any aesthetic healthcare procedure, an APRN or other licensed independent practitioner must conduct a FACE-TO-FACE assessment, determine a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan — and "may never delegate the examination, diagnosis, or treatment plan". The initial examination must review the health history and physically examine the treatment sites. For continuing patients the face-to-face is required at least once every twelve months, and sooner on any change in health status or treatment plan. TELEMEDICINE IS PERMITTED for that examination, provided the video quality does not adversely affect the assessment or diagnosis. Where a medical assistant runs the device, the SUPERVISING PHYSICIAN must personally supply the history, physical examination, diagnosis, treatment protocol and record before treatment begins.

Drawn from 9 verified rules in this section · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice

The rest of what New Mexico says on this

Every other rule we have verified under good-faith examination, each linked to its primary source.

  • Prior to a licensee providing any aesthetic healthcare procedure, an APRN or other licensed independent practitioner must conduct an assessment in a face-to-face examination, determine a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan for the patient. The APRN or other licensed independent practitioner may never delegate the examination, diagnosis, or treatment plan.

    16.12.14.10(B) NMAC (Patient care) · verified Sep 4, 2026

  • The initial examination must consist of a review of the patient’s health history, and a physical examination that includes treatment sites, and the determination of a diagnosis.

    16.12.14.10(B)(1) NMAC (Patient care — initial examination) · verified Sep 4, 2026

  • The treatment plan should ensure that the patient is a good candidate for each aesthetic healthcare procedure and must include instruction on doses, device settings, expected duration, and specific treatment sites.

    16.12.14.10(B)(2) NMAC (Patient care — treatment plan) · verified Sep 4, 2026

  • Face-to-face examination by an APRN or other licensed independent healthcare providers is required for ongoing patients at least once every 12 months but is not required before each visit unless there is a change in the patient’s health status or treatment plan.

    16.12.14.10(C) NMAC (Patient care) · verified Sep 4, 2026

  • Telemedicine may be used by an APRN or other licensed independent healthcare providers for assessment and face-to-face examinations provided that such use complies with any applicable state and federal law and that the quality of the video examination does not adversely affect the face-to-face assessment or diagnosis.

    16.12.14.10(D) NMAC (Patient care — telemedicine) · verified Sep 4, 2026

  • The supervising physician must provide the following services before treatment by a medical assistant is initiated: patient history, physical examination, diagnosis, treatment protocol, and preparation of medical record.

    16.10.13.8(B)(1) NMAC (Responsibility of the supervising physician) · verified Sep 4, 2026

  • Established physician-patient relationship means a relationship between a physician and a patient that is for the purpose of maintaining the patient’s well-being. At a minimum, this relationship is established by an interactive encounter between patient and physician involving an appropriate history and physical and/or mental status examination sufficient to make a diagnosis and to provide, prescribe or recommend treatment, with the informed consent from the patient and availability of the physician or coverage for the patient for appropriate follow-up care. A medical record must be generated by the encounter.

    16.10.8.7 NMAC (Medical ethics — definitions) · verified Sep 4, 2026

  • Prior to a licensee providing any aesthetic healthcare procedure, an APRN or other licensed independent practitioner must conduct an assessment in a face-to-face examination, determine a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan for the patient; the APRN or other licensed independent practitioner may never delegate the examination, diagnosis, or treatment plan; and the initial examination must consist of a review of the patient's health history and a physical examination that includes treatment sites and the determination of a diagnosis.

    16.12.14.10(B) NMAC (Nursing Practice in Aesthetic Healthcare Facilities — examination) · verified Sep 8, 2026

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← All New Mexico rules and changes · MedSpaRadar is regulatory monitoring and reference, not legal, medical, or compliance advice. Verify against the linked primary source and consult qualified counsel before acting — rules change and turn on your specific facts. Legislative data via LegiScan (CC BY 4.0).