health care access

The New Mexico Senate passed the Medical Malpractice Changes bill Tuesday night with only two votes against after arguing for almost three hours over ammendments eventually left off the bill. New Mexico has some of the highest malpractice payouts in the country, and House Bill 99 limits the damages awarded to about $900,000 for an independent provider and up to $6 million for a hospital.

The state of New Mexico has expanded its grant program aimed at getting more primary care physicians working across the state. In the past, this effort focused on funding new or expanded residency programs. The grants will now also go to support existing programs in need of funding.

New Mexico’s Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo presented an update on the state’s access to both physical and behavioral health care at a Legislative Finance Committee meeting in Taos on Wednesday. Despite an increase in the number of behavioral health providers and greater patient utilization, the state is seeing worse outcomes in a few areas.

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.

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.

State legislators’ first attempt to pass a bill providing oversight of hospital mergers, acquisitions and private equity takeovers failed in the face of overwhelming industry opposition. They then successfully scrambled to get a second — less controversial — bill passed before the session closed. With the Governor's signature, the state will now have permanent protection, but some lawmakers worry the final bill might have too many concessions

New Mexico Healthcare Authority Secretary Kari Armijo, President of the New Mexico Hospital Association Troy Clark, and Dr. Nancy Wright, a pediatrician in Las Vegas discuss the impacts of potential Medicaid cuts in New Mexico.

The Albuquerque community came together Wednesday to honor the lives of unhoused people who died in the city this year. KUNM’s Daniel Montano reports they read out the names of 130 people who were known to have passed.

The governor’s office announced an additional $46 million for a fund meant to expand rural health care. Providers looking to grow or just starting out can submit an application to the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund starting September 18.

Pharmacies around the country are facing financial challenges because of reimbursements on some Medicare prescriptions that don't cover the cost of the drug.