Representatives of the New Mexico Medical Society recently spoke to lawmakers about a growing issue in the state: Attracting and retaining medical providers.
The state’s short about 5,000 health care workers.
In April there were more than 2,200 open job postings for physicians across the state, according to the Department of Workforce Solutions.
Dr. Angelina VIllas-Adams, president of the medical society, says the state’s shortfall is playing out in front of the backdrop of the U.S. facing its own shortage of between roughly 40,000 and 120,000 doctors in the next 10 years.
“New Mexico is competing against every other state in the union to attract and retain physicians,” she said.
To do that, Villas-Adams said the state needs to invest in a few basics, like increasing Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. Those cover half of New Mexicans and are paying at an all-time low, often not even covering the cost of the procedure, according to the American Hospital Association.
“Our goal is to create a practice environment that invites physicians to stay and move to New Mexico. We want to stabilize the current medical infrastructure, support clinicians and expand services and build a pipeline for the future.
She also suggests lawmakers create a permanent trust fund for Medicaid and pass legislation to expand prior authorization.
In the last five years, the medical society says the state has lost about eight percent of its practicing physicians, which has increased the burden on those who remain. Villas-Adams says wait times have ballooned.
“You could get an appointment with me in one month in 2011,” she said, “and now it's over six months to see me in clinic.”
Quality of care also suffers, she said, as the individual burdens on doctors rise.
She recommends the Legislature establish training programs, and incorporate pre-medical classes into public high-schools to bring more young locals into the health care field.
Support for this coverage comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
