Fact:
Modern medicine is delivered through integrated hospital systems, and most physicians work inside them.
- A significant majority of New Mexico physicians are hospital-employed or hospital-based (higher than national trends).
- Nationally, only 47% of physicians remain in private practice (AMA).
- When doctors become hospital employees, hospitals become legally responsible for their care.
If hospitals were removed from the Act:
- Their liability exposure would become unlimited
- Insurance costs would spike
- High-risk specialties — such as OB, trauma, surgery, and ICU — could become unsustainable
- Many New Mexico hospitals, especially rural ones, could not obtain affordable coverage
Including hospitals protects patient access, not corporate interests.
Source:
- American Medical Association. (2022). Physician Practice Benchmark Survey: Private Practice Edition. AMA Research.
- New Mexico Legislative Health & Human Services Committee. (2023–2024). Testimony on provider employment trends.
- New Mexico Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee. (2023). Hearing on malpractice and hospital liability framework.