The Time is Now
to Strengthen Our Healthcare System
New Mexico’s patients are in peril. A mother and her unborn child were killed in an accident while she was driving 65 miles from Las Vegas, New Mexico to Santa Fe to access prenatal care. Her local clinic was shut down due to a lack of providers. A young couple in Albuquerque sought a specialist after their two-year-old son was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, only to be told no doctor in the state knew how to treat it. They were forced to seek care elsewhere.
These are poignant examples of the countless ways New Mexico residents are battling an urgent health care crisis: physician shortages. Doctors and other health care professionals are leaving the state in record numbers. We are the only state in the nation that has lost physicians every single year since 2019—a staggering net loss of 248 doctors. As a result, entire communities are left without providers in fields like obstetrics, primary care, and mental health, in addition to facing long wait times for appointments if they can find care.
Skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs and low Medicaid reimbursement rates make it both difficult and expensive for doctors to work here. In fact, New Mexico ranks as the second worst state for physician shortages. Without any change to the system, the situation is expected to grow even more dire: over the next few years, experts predict that the doctor shortage rate will double.
At Patient-Led New Mexico, they believe that this crisis presents a powerful opportunity and that real solutions are within reach. We cannot afford to lose another doctor, another nurse, another clinic. Our communities deserve better.
Patients’ bold voices and urgent needs are the driving force behind Patient-Led New Mexico’s mission. They are putting the power into the hands of locals to create awareness, build consensus, engage with their representatives, and change policy to ensure that every New Mexican receives the timely, life-changing care they deserve.
Other states have shown that patient-centered reforms work to increase access, strengthen care, and restore trust. Let’s rise together to build a healthier state for current and future generations of New Mexicans. The time is now.
Their Mission
Patient-Led New Mexico exists to ensure that every New Mexican can access the timely, high-quality healthcare they deserve, by championing patient-centered reforms that strengthen and advance our healthcare system. At Patient-Led, they inspire hope and action by showing that real lasting reform is within reach when patients, providers, communities and lawmakers unite to build a stronger healthcare future for all New Mexicans.
Who is Patient-Led New Mexico?
Patient-Led New Mexico is a nonpartisan, patient-centered initiative committed to building a stronger healthcare future by exposing systemic challenges, upholding excellence, and inspiring collaborative reform. At Patient-Led New Mexico, they inspire hope and action by showing that real lasting reform is within reach when patients, providers, communities, and lawmakers unite to build a stronger healthcare future for all New Mexicans.
How They Define “Patient-Led”
Prioritize the needs and health of patients above all else. Advocate with honesty, transparency, and a steadfast commitment to truth. Champion the highest standards in healthcare quality, access, and outcomes. Work alongside healthcare providers, community leaders, and policymakers to drive sustainable, patient-centered reforms. Hold ourselves and our leaders responsible for building a system that serves every New Mexican.
Why It Matters
As medical doctors and patient advocates, we are guided to put patient well-being first, speak honestly about medical risks, and oppose any policy that compromises safety. New Mexico continues to lose physicians, specialists, and healthcare providers at a time when our population’s needs are growing. Clinics are closing, hospitals are at risk for closure, workforce shortages are intensifying, and patients are experiencing longer wait times and reduced access to care. These challenges are not simply the result of national trends. They are being shaped, and in many cases, worsened, by state-level policy decisions that directly affect provider retention, practice environments, and patient outcomes.
How to Get Involved
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Share Your Experience
As medical professionals, we are guided to put patient well-being first, speak honestly about medical risks, and oppose any policy that compromises safety. We invite you to share your story from the front lines. Your voice helps illuminate the realities facing providers and patients across New Mexico. Click here to share your story.
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