← The business of practice, every jurisdiction
What New Mexico’s statute, administrative rules and chiropractic board publish on eight topics of running a practice, quoted as published, each with its citation as printed, its source and the date we read it. Read on 9 October 2026.
Advertising · Titles and claims · Prepaid care and financial arrangements · Discounts, free services and inducements · Record retention · Assistants and delegation · Corporate practice and ownership · Telehealth
A. The board may refuse to issue or may suspend or revoke any license or may censure, reprimand, fine or place on probation and stipulation any licensee in accordance with the procedures as contained in the Uniform Licensing Act [61-1-1 to 61-1-31 NMSA 1978] upon the grounds that the licensee or applicant:61-4-10 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
is guilty of advertising by means of knowingly false statements;61-4-10 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
advertises or attempts to attract patronage in any unethical manner prohibited by the rules and regulations of the board;61-4-10 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
A. Any chiropractor who disseminates or causes to be disseminated or allows to be disseminated any advertising which is in any way fraudulent, false, deceptive, misleading or confusing, shall be deemed to be in violation of the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act.16.4.20.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0020.html · read 9 October 2026
B. Fraudulent, false, deceptive, misleading or confusing advertising includes, but is not limited, to:16.4.20.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0020.html · read 9 October 2026
(15) advertising which employs testimonials which, by themselves or when taken together with the remainder of the advertisement intimidate, exert undue pressure on, or otherwise improperly influence the recipient.16.4.20.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0020.html · read 9 October 2026
J. No applicant for licensure to practice chiropractic, and no unlicensed practitioner, shall advertise chiropractic services in this state in any way.16.4.20.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0020.html · read 9 October 2026
M. Any direct, individual contact by a licensee or the agent of a licensee with prospective patients through the use of public records, including but not limited to police or accident reports is prohibited.16.4.20.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0020.html · read 9 October 2026
D. The license, when granted by the board, carries with it the title of doctor of chiropractic and entitles the holder to diagnose using any necessary diagnostic procedures, excluding invasive procedures, except as provided by the board by rule, and treat injuries, deformities or other physical or mental conditions relating to the basic concepts of chiropractic by the use of any methods as provided in this section, including but not limited to palpating, diagnosing, adjusting and treating injuries and defects of human beings by the application of manipulative, manual and mechanical means, including all natural agencies imbued with the healing act, such as food, water, heat, cold, electricity and mechanical appliances, herbs, nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies, but excluding operative surgery and prescription or use of controlled or dangerous drugs.61-4-6 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
The terms "chiropractor", "chiropractic physician" or "chiropractic" may be used only by persons licensed pursuant to the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act.61-4-9.3 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
Only a chiropractic physician included in the advanced practice chiropractic certification registry may use the title certified advanced practice chiropractic physician, and it is unlawful for a person to use the certified advanced practice chiropractic physician title unless the person is included in the advanced practice chiropractic certification registry.61-4-9.1 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
A. The board may refuse to issue or may suspend or revoke any license or may censure, reprimand, fine or place on probation and stipulation any licensee in accordance with the procedures as contained in the Uniform Licensing Act [61-1-1 to 61-1-31 NMSA 1978] upon the grounds that the licensee or applicant:61-4-10 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
is guilty of practicing or attempting to practice under an assumed name or fails to use the title "doctor of chiropractic", chiropractic physician or the initials "D.C." in connection with the licensee's or applicant's practice or advertisements;61-4-10 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
I. “Chiropractic physician” includes doctor of chiropractic, chiropractor and chiropractic physician and means a person who practices chiropractic as defined in the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act.16.4.1.7 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0001.html · read 9 October 2026
K. All advertisements by a chiropractor must include the full name of the chiropractor as it appears on his or her chiropractic license followed by the letters D.C. or the designation “chiropractor”, “chiropractic physician” or “doctor of chiropractic”.16.4.20.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0020.html · read 9 October 2026
Q. “Pre-paid treatment plans” include any agreement between a licensee and patient or prospective patient that includes payment or collection of money for treatment planned, anticipated or held in reserve to occur or potentially occur more than 14 days following the payment or collection of those monies.16.4.1.7 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0001.html · read 9 October 2026
Chiropractic physicians accepting pre-payment for services planned but not yet delivered must:16.4.1.16 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0001.html · read 9 October 2026
A. Establish an escrow account to hold all pre-payment funds.16.4.1.16 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0001.html · read 9 October 2026
B. The patient's file must contain the proposed treatment plan including enumeration of all aspects of evaluation, management and treatment planned to therapeutically benefit the patient relative to the condition determined to be present and necessitating treatment.16.4.1.16 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0001.html · read 9 October 2026
(1) The patient's financial file must contain documents outlining any necessary procedures for refunding unused payment amounts in the event that either the patient or the doctor discharge the others services or therapeutic association.16.4.1.16 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0001.html · read 9 October 2026
C. A contract for services and consent of treatment document must be maintained in the patient's file that specifies the condition for which the treatment plan is formulated, prognosis and alternate treatment options.16.4.1.16 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0001.html · read 9 October 2026
D. The chiropractic physician is responsible for providing all treatment appropriate and necessary to address and manage the condition including unforeseen exacerbations or aggravations, within the chiropractic physicians licensure, that may occur during the course of time for which the contract is active. This does not include alternative services procured by the patient or treatment by providers other than the treating chiropractor or those under the chiropractors direct supervision.16.4.1.16 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0001.html · read 9 October 2026
E. If nutritional products or other hard goods including braces, supports or patient aids are to be used during the proposed treatment plan the patient documents must state whether these items are included in the gross treatment costs or if they constitute a separate and distinct service and fee.16.4.1.16 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0001.html · read 9 October 2026
I. No chiropractor shall advertise directly or indirectly, through any device or artifice, that the advertising chiropractor will not collect from any prospective patient, that patient’s insurance deductible or co-payment obligations arising by virtue of any medical insurance policy provided for the payment, in whole or in part, of any chiropractor’s charge.16.4.20.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0020.html · read 9 October 2026
D. Advertisements may quote fixed prices for specific routine services if such advertising clearly and conspicuously states whether or not additional charges may be incurred for related services and the possible range of such additional charges if such charges may be incurred.16.4.20.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0020.html · read 9 October 2026
A. The board may refuse to issue or may suspend or revoke any license or may censure, reprimand, fine or place on probation and stipulation any licensee in accordance with the procedures as contained in the Uniform Licensing Act [61-1-1 to 61-1-31 NMSA 1978] upon the grounds that the licensee or applicant:61-4-10 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
is guilty of unprofessional conduct that includes but is not limited to the following:61-4-10 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
(g) fee splitting;61-4-10 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
B. “Unprofessional conduct” means, but is not limited to because of enumeration:16.4.8.10 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0008.html · read 9 October 2026
(9) accept rebates, or split fees or commissions from any source associated with the service rendered to a patient;16.4.8.10 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0008.html · read 9 October 2026
C. Chiropractic physicians must retain medical records that they own for at least two years beyond what is required by state insurance laws and by medicare and medicaid regulations. Medical records for patients who are minors must be retained for at least two years beyond the date that the patient is 18 years old.16.4.14.10 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.4.14.html · read 9 October 2026
D. A log must be kept of all charts destroyed, including the patient’s name and date of record destruction.16.4.14.10 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.4.14.html · read 9 October 2026
Chiropractic physicians must provide complete copies of medical records to a patient or to another physician in a timely manner when legally requested to do so by the patient or by a legally designated representative of the patient.16.4.14.8 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.4.14.html · read 9 October 2026
A. Medical records may not be withheld because an account is overdue or a bill for treatment medical records, or other services is owed.16.4.14.8 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.4.14.html · read 9 October 2026
A. Whenever possible, active patients and patients seen within the previous three years must be notified at least 30 days before closing, selling, relocating or leaving a practice.16.4.14.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.4.14.html · read 9 October 2026
F. When a practice is sold, all active patients must be notified that the chiropractic physician is transferring the practice to another chiropractic physician or entity who will retain custody of their records and that at their written request the records (or copies) will be sent to another physician or entity of their choice.16.4.14.9 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.4.14.html · read 9 October 2026
F. "chiropractic assistant" means a person who practices under the on-premises supervision of a licensed chiropractic physician.61-4-2 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
The holder may also supervise the use of any natural agencies imbued with the healing act, such as food, water, heat, cold, electricity, mechanical appliances, herbs, nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies administered by a chiropractic assistant.61-4-6 · nmonesource.com · document.do · read 9 October 2026
A. The minimum education requirement for a chiropractic assistant is high school graduation or equivalent with a minimum of three months of supervised training in the specific duties and procedures the chiropractic assistant will perform.16.4.19.8 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0019.html · read 9 October 2026
B. The chiropractic assistant can, under the supervision of the chiropractic physician, perform diagnostic tests and administer the use of any or all natural agencies imbued with the healing act such as food, water, heat, cold, electrical mechanical appliances, herbs, nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies.16.4.19.8 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0019.html · read 9 October 2026
C. As used in this section, the term “under the supervision of the chiropractic physician” means that:16.4.19.8 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0019.html · read 9 October 2026
(1) the chiropractic physician shall have a current New Mexico license in “good standing” with the board;16.4.19.8 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0019.html · read 9 October 2026
(2) the chiropractic physician shall personally train the chiropractic assistant in any procedure they practice; and16.4.19.8 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0019.html · read 9 October 2026
(3) the chiropractic physician must be physically present in the same building and immediately available in order for the chiropractic assistant to treat the patient.16.4.19.8 · www.srca.nm.gov · 16.004.0019.html · read 9 October 2026
Shown only where the jurisdiction publishes a provision specific to chiropractic.
unreadable Not read on 9 October 2026: www.rld.nm.gov · faqs · HTTP 504 on two attempts (first attempt a timeout); the board’s FAQs page. Not read on 9 October 2026: www.rld.nm.gov · 16.4.22-amendment.pdf · scan, no text layer (HTTP 200); the board’s copy of the 16.4.22 NMAC amendment; the compiled 16.4.22 NMAC part was not returned by WebSearch or linked from a captured page, so part 22 was not read.The jurisdiction is the authority on everything here. These pages quote what the statute, the rules and the board publish and the date we read them; they do not interpret it. Laws and rules change. Confirm anything you intend to act on with the board.