In a major shift impacting hundreds of patients, Women’s Specialists of New Mexico has announced it will no longer deliver babies at Presbyterian Hospital. The move, according to Dr. Jean Valdez of Women’s Specialists, is driven by the need to prioritize the physical and mental health of their physicians, who are already stretched thin.
“We can no longer stretch our physicians to cover two hospitals,” Valdez explained. “We have to take both the physical and mental wellbeing of our physicians in mind and can’t stretch them out too far.”
Currently, the practice operates with nine physicians providing 24-hour OB coverage. To meet the demand, they would need to double that number—an unachievable goal given the state’s severe shortage of medical professionals. Valdez highlighted several contributing factors to this crisis, including New Mexico’s medical malpractice laws, tax policies, and low Medicaid reimbursement rates.
This announcement underscores the broader healthcare challenges facing the state. New Mexico has long struggled with recruiting and retaining medical professionals, a situation exacerbated by rural geography, high crime rates, and a struggling education system. These systemic issues, coupled with the economic realities of practicing in the state, have created what many describe as a “crippling shortage” of doctors and other healthcare providers.
On the same day as this announcement, Democratic leaders in the Legislature revealed their plans to address the healthcare provider shortage. The proposed measures include housing subsidies and mandates for specific nursing ratios. However, critics argue these initiatives fail to address the underlying policy issues highlighted by experts like Valdez.
State Rep. Eleanor Chavez (D-Albuquerque), a key proponent of the plan, claimed, “Corporate greed is a driver of the [health care] crisis.” However, this explanation has faced significant pushback. Observers point out that the challenges in healthcare stem from deeper structural issues, such as the third-party payment system, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement policies, Obamacare regulations, and burdensome occupational licensure requirements. New Mexico’s poor economic climate and historically high crime rates further complicate efforts to attract and retain healthcare workers.
Critics argue that while Democratic leadership acknowledges the problem, their approach does little to address the core barriers preventing medical professionals from choosing New Mexico. As one analysis from the Rio Grande Foundation notes, “Democrats don’t want to address what the EXPERT says is the issue which involves fundamental policy change. Instead, they’d like to blame ‘corporate greed’ and do nothing.”
The decision by Women’s Specialists reflects the real-world consequences of these systemic issues. Without significant reforms to address malpractice laws, economic incentives, and the broader challenges facing healthcare providers, New Mexico’s doctor shortage is likely to persist, leaving patients and providers to bear the burden.
Dealing with our New Mexico government and politicians continues to remind me of being tangled in an abusive narcissistic relationship.
Denial, gaslighting, projection and a complete lack of accountability on the part of the very system that has us in a stranglehold.
Losing a major provider at one of our main local hospitals is HUGE. It is clear that these elected officials are not going to look within and recognize our states issues and it’s time for them to go. Dr. Valdez offered the best, most accurate feedback and reasoning possible. No uncertain terms. The government policies are in the way. Corporate greed?! Are you kidding me? No. This is a business responding to the climate and making survival decisions based upon their staffing capabilities and limitations, which are being negatively affected by the policies (tax, regulation and economic) within our backwards, can’t get out of it’s own way little state.
One of the largest subscriber groups in our state is the NMPED – the school systems. These members have two choices for healthcare insurance – Presbyterian and Blue Cross. So now, this member group which is largely comprised of child bearing women, have lost the ability of choice with one of our larger hospitals and IF they want to have maternity coverage at Pres, will have no choice but to switch to Blue Cross. We’re already in a shortage of providers. Try making an appointment for any OBGYN issue. Good luck on getting an available appointment within a short period of time. This means delayed care. Overworked staff. Angry patients. And most importantly, perhaps far worse circumstances as a result of the delayed care.
This is just one slice of the pie. This phenomenon is system wide. It is affecting virtually ALL aspects of our healthcare system here in New Mexico, whether it’s seeing your primary care provider or any type of specialist.
And, just like that narcissistic relationship I mentioned originally, the only answer seems to be to leave. It isn’t going to change. 90+/- years under the same party and Patron system. I’m a NM Native and I do love my state, but I’m about done here.
So well written! I’m sure you’ve already done it, but send it to Santa Fe… to ALL of them!
I agree! Send it to the idiots that are running our state into the ground. It’s typical of the democrats to do this to the state. Look around at all the blue states and how poorly they are run. They are just experimenting with how bad it can get.
Don’t forget Cervantes medical malpractice law that he got through, its one of the big drivers in making doctors leave, I’ve spoke with many….the cost is huge for their insurance now.
You can’t fix NM stupid. The legislature is full of ignorant people elected by ignorant voters. Ignorance is the problem from uneducated public.
New Mexico is facing 3rd world conditions.