In a recent opinion column published by The Albuquerque Journal, Democrat State Rep. Liz Thomson dismissed growing concerns over New Mexico’s medical malpractice system as nothing more than “political theater” and a “phantom problem.” But physicians across the state—and hard data—tell a very different story.
Thomson, an Albuquerque progressive who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, doubled down on her opposition to medical malpractice reform, arguing that the real causes of the physician shortage are insufficient pay, student debt, and lack of housing support.
“Now that the gutting of Medicaid makes it more important and urgent than ever that we stop debating phantom problems and focus our attention on the real challenge: ensuring every New Mexican has timely access to quality medical care,” Thomson wrote.
She added, “It doesn’t point fingers at patient advocates and it doesn’t propose solutions that harm a patient’s access to justice,” implying that efforts to reform the state’s high-risk medical malpractice climate are unjustified and unnecessary.
But doctors, hospital administrators, and business owners have warned for years that New Mexico’s out-of-control malpractice insurance costs—particularly after the 2021 amendments to the Medical Malpractice Act—are creating a dangerous climate for providers.
What the Data Shows
Since 2021, when the Legislature raised the liability cap for independent outpatient healthcare facilities from $600,000 to $750,000 (and ultimately up to $1 million by 2027), malpractice insurers have fled the state. The Doctors Company, once a major provider of malpractice insurance in New Mexico, withdrew from covering independent outpatient facilities altogether.
A 2022 report from the New Mexico Medical Society found that more than 100 doctors left the state in just one year, citing skyrocketing premiums and the threat of unlimited personal liability.
In 2023, more than two dozen clinics warned they were planning to close or stop offering high-risk procedures such as OB-GYN and emergency care due to unaffordable coverage. Many providers reported malpractice premiums doubling or tripling after the law changed.
The American Medical Association has consistently ranked New Mexico as one of the most “medico-legally hostile” states in the country, making it one of the hardest places to recruit and retain specialty physicians.
And it’s not just anecdotal. In 2024, the LFC’s own staff acknowledged in testimony that high liability exposure—especially for independent providers—was contributing to the exodus of physicians, particularly in rural areas.
The Consequences
Patients are feeling the effects. Expectant mothers in southeastern New Mexico must now travel hours to find OB-GYN care, and some small hospitals report being unable to find coverage for anesthesia or emergency surgery on certain days.
Meanwhile, Rep. Thomson continues to reject malpractice reform as mere “misinformation.” Her dismissal of these urgent warnings as a “phantom problem” may be politically convenient, but for doctors and patients alike, it’s a very real crisis.
Unless lawmakers take immediate steps to restore balance and fairness to the medical malpractice system, New Mexico risks losing even more of its already limited health care workforce.
Shocker that Liz Thompson says this and feels that way. She has done nothing for state except to bring it down. I was in the Medical field for over 30 years and can attest to what the article says, and recently went out of state to receive spinal surgery as neurosurgeons are almost non existent in the state. This not only drives doctors out of the state, but also residents, and we will ne part of that number that is leaving soon.
Friends of ours faced a similar dilemma and had to go to out of state to get spinal treatment for one of them. My wife has experienced a number of her doctors either retiring or leaving the state. This remains and continues to be a growing issue for seniors as competent medical care flees. This problem lies at the feet of democrat legislators and trial lawyers. They could care less about residents of our state as long as they stay in power and line their pockets.
As long as our neighbors keep voting for democrats, we will continue to decline as a state. And I don’t see the future getting better. In our own neighborhood, many of our neighbors have relocated from California and brought their stinking politics with them. Not a good outlook for our state.
democrats couldnt tell you the truth if their lives depended on it. Liz Thompsons track record at the round house is a disgrace. wake up voters, you put a loser in charge.
Wife and I have waited 75 days to get her in to a pain doctor. No appointments available. 75 days of suffering. thats not theatre Liz Thompson you jack ass.
When you are sick, you can’t get a Doctor appt for weeks and weeks but you can get an abortion immediately. Really sad for NM. We can’t heal them but we can kill them. Thanks to Dem ‘government’ who have run this state into a garbage landfill.
Very well stated and it is a shame that we have such a terrible medical system here in N.M. It makes no sense that we have abortion on demand and are spending 20 million on new abortion clinics to bring in out of staters, I guess in a demonrats mind they look at it as extra 1money in taxes. Our elected officials need to start fixing whats broken and quit breaking whats working. I chose to retire here and bring my income to this state, I can also choose to leave this state and take my money elsewhere. I left California because the dems are destroying it and am sad they have N.M. at the top of bad lists and the bottom of good lists. Wake up voters before it’s too late.
Although it happens, the “bad” doctor is rare. However, between government and “health” insurance, it is now impossible to have a true relationship with any medical provider. AND one of the main things folks forget is the medical profession isn’t called a medical PRACTICE for nothing. Tools to help diagnose are limited because of what insurance tells the doctor they have to do 1st, 2nd and 3rd, limiting what it would COST the insurance company (their only concern). And let us not forget those who are quick to sue without knowing the whole picture. I’m actually surprised anyone wants to practice medicine. We’re lucky to have the ones who HAVE stuck around here. I wouldn’t want to go to bed at night wondering if I wanted to stay in my profession in New Mexico for numerous reasons.
The only “doctors” that MLG and the socialist party aka democrats, are recruiting are infanticide aka abortion “doctors”
Trial lawyers have spread a lot of Dark money around.
My husband and I have lived in NM for 10 years. In that time, we have lost 17 doctors (primary care and specialists) who have left the state or retired. I am on my 4th primary care doctor, my husband on his 3rd. 2 months ago I had an MRI of my brain after waiting months to see a neurologist. I have not had any communication from the neurologist about the results and the earliest follow up appointment is 6 months from my initial appointment.
250,000+ cases of malpractice happen every year in the US. Doctors need to be liable for their lack of care and ignorance. You do not need to raise rates, just allow it to be easier to sue the doctor/nurse in their personal capacity. Now, all of these hospitals and doctors in NM are guilty of the detrimental effects of vaccine injury, especially due to the jab AND the data is now there to support this. Has nothing to do with blue or red side of things. These are facts. Healthcare in NM has always been horrible. But now that it is mostly funded by the federal government, it will more likely never improve.