RIO RANCHO, N.M. — New Mexicans are worried about the lack of access to quality health care.

“We came to the realization that if we want to stay alive, and if we want to have a good quality of life, our only option right now is to go elsewhere,” said Pat Jilek, a Rio Rancho resident.

Two organizations are joining forces to help patients across our state. In fact, the new nonprofit is called Patient-Led NM and it was founded through the leadership of the New Mexico Medical Society, New Mexico Hospital Association, Sacramento Mountains Foundation, and Greater Albuquerque Medical Association.

“Patient-Led New Mexico is an initiative that began in the summer of 2025, and our goal is to put patients at the center of the conversation of health care reform in New Mexico. Everyone deserves access to timely, quality care in our state, and we have not been,” said Annie Jung, co-founder of Patient-Led NM.

(Originally published by KOB, October 14, 2025)