A new report released by Think New Mexico highlights a looming healthcare crisis across the state: a severe shortage of healthcare professionals that threatens to undermine access to essential services for New Mexicans, particularly in rural areas. The report, titled “Solving New Mexico’s Healthcare Workforce Crisis”, outlines a ten-point plan with legislative recommendations aimed at addressing this shortfall, and calls for both immediate and long-term solutions to tackle the state’s healthcare workforce challenges.
A Healthcare Crisis in Numbers
According to the report, New Mexico ranks among the worst states in terms of access to healthcare professionals. Currently, more than 1 million New Mexicans live in areas classified as healthcare professional shortage areas by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The shortage is particularly severe for primary care physicians, nurses, and behavioral health professionals, leading to delayed care, longer travel times for patients, and added stress on the healthcare system as a whole.
“It is a situation that requires urgent attention,” said Fred Nathan, Executive Director of Think New Mexico. “We are seeing entire communities struggle with basic access to healthcare, and the consequences are life-threatening.”
The numbers are stark. The state is short approximately 330 primary care physicians, 240 behavioral health providers, and over 1,000 nurses. Without intervention, the problem is expected to worsen as many of the state’s current healthcare workers approach retirement age, exacerbating the already fragile situation.
The Human Impact
Behind the statistics are real stories of New Mexicans struggling to get the care they need. The report includes testimonials from healthcare professionals and patients who describe long waits for appointments, difficulty accessing specialists, and the personal toll of working in an under-resourced system.
The wait to see a specialist can be months, according the report, and patients drive hours just for a routine check-up because there is no one available closer to them. Patients in rural areas face the brunt of the shortage. Those living in communities like Hobbs, Gallup, and Deming have reported delays in receiving critical services like cancer screenings, mental health counseling, and even emergency care.
The healthcare professionals shortage also disproportionately affects Native American communities in New Mexico. Many tribal areas already face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, and the shortage of healthcare workers exacerbates these challenges. Native American populations, particularly those living on reservations, often must travel long distances to receive medical care, which can lead to delays in treatment and worsened health outcomes. The report highlights that addressing this shortage is crucial for improving healthcare equity, especially in these underserved and often isolated communities, where healthcare professionals are critically needed.
The 10-Point Plan for Change
The report doesn’t just highlight the problem—it offers solutions. Think New Mexico’s ten-point plan is a comprehensive roadmap for addressing the state’s healthcare professional shortage through a mix of immediate reforms and long-term investments.
The key points of the plan are:
- Reform the Medical Malpractice Act: Amending the act to reduce financial risks for providers, making New Mexico more attractive for private practice.
- Join Interstate Healthcare Worker Compacts: Simplifying the process for out-of-state healthcare workers to obtain licenses and practice in New Mexico.
- Expand Student Loan Repayment Programs: Increasing financial incentives for healthcare workers serving in underserved areas.
- Increase Medicaid Reimbursement Rates: Raising these rates could make it more viable for healthcare providers to serve Medicaid patients.
- Expand Medical and Nursing School Capacity: Increasing faculty salaries in higher education programs for health care workers and providing tax credits for preceptors training students in the community.
- Import More International Medical Graduates: Creating a pathway for doctors trained in other countries to practice in New Mexico.
- Make New Mexico’s Tax Policy More Friendly to Health Care Workers: Repealing the gross receipts tax on medical services and expanding the Rural Health Care Practitioner Tax Credit.
- Increase Access to Healthcare Training in High Schools: Providing liability protections to employers who provide hands-on training experiences for high school students and making it easier for students to earn health care credentials while still in school.
- Streamline Credentialing Processes: Creating a centralized credentialing process to reduce administrative burdens on healthcare workers.
- Create a $2 Billion Healthcare Workforce Fund: Investing in a permanent fund to support long-term workforce development, funded by state revenues.
“We need to make New Mexico a more attractive place to work for healthcare professionals,” said Nathan. “The permanent fund Think New Mexico has proposed would ensure that we can consistently invest in building and maintaining a robust healthcare workforce.”
The reforms outlined in this report are projected to offer significant economic benefits. According to a 2018 study by the American Medical Association, each physician in New Mexico adds about $1.9 million to the state’s economy annually and helps create 11 jobs. This activity generates approximately $930,000 in wages and benefits, along with over $75,000 in state and local tax revenue per doctor. By addressing the healthcare workforce shortage, these reforms would not only improve access to care but also provide a major boost to the state’s economic growth.
Educational Initiatives and Workforce Development
One of the key aspects of the report is its focus on education and workforce development. The plan emphasizes the need to expand the capacity of the state’s medical and nursing schools by increasing faculty salaries.
The report also suggests new initiatives to attract young people in New Mexico to healthcare careers. This includes increasing outreach and expanding access to career and technical education in health-related fields by providing liability protections to health employers who provide learning experiences to students, which would provide early exposure to healthcare professions and help build a pipeline of future workers.
“It starts with education,” said Sarah McGowan, a nursing student at the University of New Mexico. “If we can make healthcare more accessible as a career path, we can start to fill the gap.”
Political and Economic Challenges
While the healthcare worker shortage report is comprehensive, the political and economic challenges of implementing its recommendations are significant. Funding a $2 billion permanent healthcare workforce fund would require strong bipartisan support in the state legislature, as well as identifying a sustainable source of revenue. Furthermore, reforms like raising Medicaid reimbursement rates could face pushback due to their impact on the state budget.
However, Think New Mexico’s report argues that the costs of inaction far outweigh the price of these reforms. The current shortage is already costing the state in terms of both health outcomes and economic productivity, and the problem will only worsen if steps are not taken now.
A Call for Immediate Action
The report concludes with a call to action for state lawmakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders to come together and address the healthcare professionals shortage. It stresses the importance of a long-term commitment to solving the crisis, noting that while many of the proposed solutions will take time to bear fruit, immediate steps can and should be taken to alleviate the strain on the system.
“This is a critical moment for New Mexico,” said Nathan. “If we act now, we can reverse this trend and ensure that all New Mexicans have access to the healthcare they deserve.”
Con Alma Health Foundation’s Role
The report was made possible through the support of the Con Alma Health Foundation, which funded the research and development. Con Alma, a major advocate for improving health equity and access in New Mexico, played a crucial role in ensuring that the findings and recommendations could be brought to light. Their mission to support underserved communities aligns closely with the goals of the report, and their funding enabled the in-depth analysis of the healthcare workforce crisis.
“At Con Alma, we believe that investing in critical research like the Healthcare Worker Shortage report is essential for understanding and addressing the healthcare challenges our state faces,” said Con Alma CEO Linda Candelaria. “We wanted to provide New Mexico’s policymakers, healthcare leaders, and communities with the data they need to make informed decisions. The insights gained will guide reforms that can improve access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas, and ensure that everyone living in New Mexico can receive the healthcare they deserve.”
About Think New Mexico
Think New Mexico is a nonpartisan, results-oriented think tank dedicated to improving the quality of life for all New Mexicans. Focused on practical, data-driven solutions, the organization tackles some of the state’s most pressing challenges, from healthcare and education to economic development and government reform. By researching critical issues and proposing legislative reforms, Think New Mexico aims to create positive change that benefits both individuals and communities across the state. The organization operates with a commitment to independence, transparency, and improving New Mexico’s future.
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