Health Care

On this episode we talk about the promises and threats from private equity ownership in health care. New Mexico has the highest proportion of private equity- owned hospitals in the country and we’ve been named most at risk of further private equity takeovers. That's why lawmakers recently passed an oversight bill on hospital acquisitions and mergers.

New Mexico is facing a health care worker shortage. This year, legislators had the opportunity to pass bills making it easier to recruit and retain these professionals, but most legislation failed.

A trio of health care bills passed through their first committee Friday with broad bipartisan support. They’re all aimed at expanding access to health care by making it easier for some providers to move into the state. House bills 79, 81 and 82 would add New Mexico to a growing list of states allowing providers to practice as long as they’re licensed in any other state within the compact.

The 2025 legislative session kicks off January 21st and think tank Think New Mexico has a set of recommendations that aim to improve the state’s health care system. KUNM spoke with founder and executive director Fred Nathan about New Mexico joining a compact among states that would bring in more doctors to address professional shortages and other measures that would protect patients.

Representatives of the New Mexico Medical Society recently spoke to state lawmakers about a growing issue in the state: Attracting and retaining medical providers. KUNM's Daniel Montaño reports the state’s short about 5,000 health care workers.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who previously served as the state’s health secretary before getting elected to Congress, spoke at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night on the topic of health care.

The United Health Professionals of New Mexico rallied outside University of New Mexico Hospital’s Sandoval Regional Medical Center on Monday calling for a 3% raise that every other employee received.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued her proclamation on Wednesday for a special session that starts on Thursday. She was joined by other leaders from around the state who support the session, despite pushback from lawmakers in her party.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced Tuesday that his office is investigating allegations that a Las Cruces hospital has denied care to cancer patients with low incomes or who are uninsured.

Amid a recent uptick in heat, a large group of health professionals held an extreme heat summit Thursday to identify and discuss the dangerous public health consequences of climate change.