OPINION: A practical path to protect and strengthen care in New Mexico

Health care is not an abstract policy debate in New Mexico. It is personal. It affects whether a family in Albuquerque can get a timely appointment, whether a senior in Las Cruces can see a specialist, and whether a ranching family in rural New Mexico has a hospital within driving distance.

In both urban and rural communities, access to health care is becoming more fragile. Too many providers are leaving our state. Too many patients are waiting too long. And too many rural facilities are operating on the edge of closure. If we continue on the current path, the gaps in our system will only widen.

As mayor of Rio Rancho, I have learned that leadership means addressing problems directly and working with people across the spectrum to find solutions that work. As governor, I will bring that same approach to health care.

First, we must focus on recruiting and retaining doctors, nurses and health care professionals. No policy matters if there is no provider available to deliver care. New Mexico faces a persistent shortage of physicians, particularly in rural and underserved areas. That shortage drives up wait times and costs, and it leaves families with fewer choices.

We need a regulatory and legal environment that encourages providers to practice here. That includes thoughtful reform of laws that increase liability exposure without improving patient outcomes. Patients must always have the right to seek damages when negligence occurs. Accountability is essential. At the same time, our policies should not unintentionally drive doctors out of the state or discourage young professionals from building their careers here.

We can protect patients and create a climate that attracts providers. Those goals are not in conflict. They are complementary.

Second, we must strengthen rural health care. Rural New Mexico should not be an afterthought. When a hospital closes in a small community, it does not just affect emergency care. It affects local jobs, economic stability and families’ ability to stay in the communities they love.

Protecting rural health care means stabilizing critical access hospitals, expanding telehealth and ensuring that state policy does not disproportionately burden smaller providers. It also means listening to local leaders who understand the needs of their communities.

Third, we must reduce unnecessary bureaucracy that inflates costs. Government does not deliver care. Doctors, nurses and medical professionals do. When the system becomes dominated by red tape and administrative complexity, resources are diverted away from patients and into paperwork.

A smarter regulatory framework can lower costs and improve access at the same time. We should evaluate every rule and mandate through a simple test: Does this improve patient outcomes? If not, we should reconsider it.

Finally, we must approach health care with fiscal responsibility. Throwing more money at a broken system without reform will not produce better results. New Mexico has seen significant spending in many areas, yet families still struggle with access and affordability. Real progress requires structural improvements, not just larger budgets.

Health care reform does not have to be partisan. The Legislature moved the needle this year with some compacts and malpractice reforms, but more work needs to be done. Families in every part of our state want the same thing: reliable access to quality care close to home. They want to know that if something goes wrong, help is available. They want a system that works for patients, not against them.

As governor, I will continue pushing for policies that recruit and retain providers, protect patients, strengthen rural health care and remove barriers that stand in the way of care. We can build a system that serves every corner of New Mexico.

Health care is too important to treat as a political talking point. It is a foundation of healthy families and strong communities. With practical reforms and steady leadership, we can ensure that New Mexico is a place where both patients and providers can thrive.

Gregg Hull is the mayor of Rio Rancho, first elected in 2014. He is a Republican gubernatorial candidate.