Health Care

On Friday, before hosting a roundtable discussion about the effects of the federal budget bill’s impact on New Mexico’s health care, Senator Martin Heinrich got the story straight from the horse's mouth. The meeting was at First Nations Community Healthsource, where Heinrich talked to patients about what losing Medicaid would mean for them.

At a roundtable discussion hosted by Democratic U. S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (second from right) on Friday, experts, providers and more discussed the potential impacts to Medicaid, which covers 40% of New Mexicans, by what's known as the "Big Beautiful Bill." Heinrich says 96,000 people could lose health coverage and Troy Clark, president of the New Mexico Hospitals Association said six to eight hospitals might be forced to close if federal funds dry up.

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.