abortion access

Texas has sued the Biden administration to try to block a federal rule that shields patient medical records from criminal investigations if they cross state lines to seek abortion in New Mexico or other states where it is legal.

In a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday, lawmakers discussed the challenges, costs and emotional impact on people traveling out of state for abortion access. New Mexico has seen one of the largest increases in out-of-state patients in the nation.

Nina Martin, reporter and editor with the Center for Investigative Reporting, discusses her reporting on the merger between Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center and Christus Health for the Reveal podcast, and how it created limits on reproductive and other care.

The number of abortions performed in New Mexico has more than tripled since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. That’s according to a new study that says interstate travel across the country continues to grow for the procedure.New Mexico has seen one of the most dramatic increases in abortion care in the country because of demand from out-of-state patients.

The fault line was exposed this week. On Monday, Lubbock County officials rushed to approve the ordinance, being pushed by the same organizers behind the “sanctuary city” movement that predated the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. But on Tuesday, the Amarillo City Council took a deep breath and said they would not follow other local governing bodies in approving the ban.

Lubbock is now the fourth, and largest, county to pass the ordinance which would punish people through civil lawsuits for aiding pregnant women seeking abortions outside of Texas.

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year, more people are coming to New Mexico for abortions and lawmakers passed a bill to ensure access. But counties and local governments have passed ordinances to restrict abortion and at least one is suing to overturn that state law. On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico we get an update on all this.

Advisory committee preps for out of state patients, expects support for locals ‘We also need to prioritize our folks’ care here in our large, rural state’

It is the latest in a series of legal actions over access to abortion in New Mexico, although the procedure remains legal here and a new law prevents municipalities interfering in reproductive care.

New Mexico has seen significant movement on protecting reproductive healthcare and access to abortion. Still the town of Edgewood is considering an ordinance that would likely violate state law and court rulings.