A New Mexico doctor fought for his patient through months of system delays—only to see a treatable condition become a lifelong disability.

In rural New Mexico, a hardworking rancher lived with undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes. Like so many others, he couldn’t find a primary care provider. Long waits and limited access led him to delay care—until a foot injury sent him to the ER.

By then, it was too late.

When no pediatric rheumatologists were available in New Mexico, one family drove 900 miles so their child wouldn’t suffer permanent damage.

With nearly every county designated a Health Professional Shortage Area, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Without bold policy action, New Mexico risks losing even more providers to burnout, relocation, or early retirement—further deepening a crisis that already threatens patient outcomes.

Ownership isn’t the issue—access is. New Mexico’s healthcare crisis isn’t about who runs our hospitals. It’s about whether patients can actually get care. Here’s what’s really driving doctors out of the state—and what we can do to fix it.

A new public education campaign has been launched by Patient-Led NM, founded by the New Mexico Medical Society, New Mexico Hospital Association, Sacramento Mountains Foundation, and the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association. The effort aims to educate New Mexicans about the policy landscape contributing to the state’s deepening healthcare crisis, which has resulted in a significant loss of physicians and growing barriers to patient care.