Blog & News
Why New Mexico Can’t Keep Its Doctors — And What We Can Do About It
New Mexico is facing one of the worst physician shortages in the country—hurting access to care, straining our healthcare system, and putting patients at risk. But the real crisis isn’t just how few doctors we have. It’s how few stay. Here’s what you need to know...
Myth 7: The malpractice system is working fine — the problem is just corporate mismanagement.
Fact: If the system were functioning well, we would not see: Persistent hospital and clinic closures Specialty care shortages Multi-month wait times A shrinking insurer pool Medical service lines being discontinued Rising out-of-state patient migration for basic care...
OPINION: Compacts are a critical step in New Mexico’s fight to expand health care access
By Marian MatthewsALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In late 2021, Michael and Naomi learned that their 2-year-old son, Sebastián, had an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer. Like any parents, they wanted to get their son the best treatment possible. Unfortunately, his type...
Myth 6: Malpractice payouts primarily go to injured patients.
Fact: New Mexico’s high claim frequency and severity mean a growing share of dollars is going to: Litigation costs Defense expenses Insurance losses This raises premiums for doctors and hospitals and contributes to service reductions — especially in rural communities....
Why Patient-Centered Reform Matters Now in New Mexico
New Mexico’s healthcare system is at a critical juncture. Provider shortages, limited access to specialists, and unsustainable medical malpractice policies are creating gaps that affect the health and stability of every community. These pressures are not abstract,...
Myth 5: Expanding medical school enrollment will solve the physician shortage.
Fact: Training more physicians is important, but retention is the real challenge. According to the UNM School of Medicine Location Report (2024): Only ~52% of physicians who complete both medical school and residency at UNM stay in New Mexico. National data (AAMC)...
What Patients Are Living With Every Day
When you open a newspaper or scroll through a local news website, like the Albuquerque Journal, The Santa Fe New Mexican, the Las Cruces Sun, and many more, you will see a pattern that is impossible to ignore. A health care crisis. So many stories point to the same...
Statement on HB 99 Passing House Health & Human Services Committee
January 30, 2026 Media ContactJen Paul Schroerjen@jjsassociates.us Today, HB 99 advanced out of the House Health & Human Services Committee with a bipartisan VOTE COUNT: 7 to 3 vote. While the bill’s movement reflects recognition of the urgent need to stabilize...
Myth 4: New Mexico has a healthy malpractice insurance market.
Fact: New Mexico’s market is widely recognized as distressed. Only a very small number of insurers still write malpractice policies in our state. Several carriers have exited in recent years due to unpredictable risk and high verdict severity. Fewer insurers mean...
HB 99 Medical Malpractice Reform – HHHS Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 30, 2026 STATEMENT ON HB 99 PASSING HOUSE HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Today, HB 99 advanced out of the House Health & Human Services Committee with a bipartisan VOTE COUNT: 7 to 3 vote. While the bill’s movement...
Myth 3: Malpractice reform is driven by corporate hospitals looking to avoid accountability.
Fact: The biggest driver of recent reform efforts is market instability, not corporate preference. Independent actuaries (WTW/MPLA) show: New Mexico’s five-year average loss ratio is 175% (insurers pay $1.75 for every $1.00 collected). The U.S. average is ~75%. New...
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