N.M. Stat. § 23-3-1
Purpose of miners' hospital; admission and maintenance of
patients.
The miners' hospital of New Mexico is intended and meant to be for the free
treatment and care of resident miners of the state of New Mexico, who may become
sick or injured in the line of their occupation; and all lodging and medical care shall be
free of charge, as shall all other expenses incurred by the patient, except in cases
where such patient is possessed of property and means sufficient to enable him to pay
the actual costs and charges incurred by his attendance at such hospital, in which case
the governing authority may make provision for his being charged and paying such
expenses incurred.
Provided, however, the governing authority may take in other patients for treatment
and care, upon the payment of all expenses therefor by the patients, when they may be
received and treated without excluding any miners from the hospital.