OPINION: Restoring hope for health care In New Mexico

Remember early COVID days? We were trying to figure out Zoom and how to have "happy hours" that, well … weren't so happy. I watched as many people emerged from that time lonelier, angrier and less able to connect. Coupled with disinformation and social media, many have forgotten how to sit across from someone and have tough conversations. Anger is the default.

I've watched this play out in politics, communities and especially in our health care system. Call me crazy, but I believe we can find our way back — if we're willing to do the hard work of staying in dialogue. I'm not saying we compromise values, but I am saying we figure out where we have common ground and move from there.

That's why I convened doctors and trial lawyers twice-a-week for the last year — to have meaningful conversations about medical malpractice. We made a commitment to show up, listen, and to emerge with solutions.

We started by identifying health care solutions we wanted to build: pathways for providers to stay in private practice, loan repayment, down payment assistance, paying preceptors who train residents, reducing corporate influence in medicine. Everyone cared deeply about the same thing: Patients deserve better. Together, we’ve been working toward real solutions that address the underlying challenges within our health care system.

This session, one bill we're bringing forward is the Medical Injury Collaborative Resolution Act (MICRA). It's our homegrown bill addressing medical malpractice as one component in a much larger health care landscape that isn’t serving the people.

Right now, when there is the possibility of medical malpractice, communication stops. Providers want to explain what happened, express empathy, discuss making things right. But risk management steps in, silencing providers and cutting them off from patients they care for. Meanwhile, patients are left desperate for answers. With nowhere else to turn, they seek legal counsel.

This breakdown isn't so different from what's happening in our society — we're losing our ability to communicate in human and caring ways.

MICRA changes this by allowing formal conversations about adverse patient outcomes without those conversations being used as evidence in court. This creates space for honesty both patients and providers desperately need.

For patients, this means answers. Understanding what happened. Hearing directly from their providers. And, if appropriate, receiving compensation or hospital policy change without years of litigation.

For providers, this means the ability to be human with their patients. To express condolences or share empathy without fear their words might be used in a courtroom, and when necessary, to offer resolution and fair compensation if malpractice did occur.

The evidence from other states is clear: When patients receive honest information, many choose resolution over lawsuits. Not because they can't pursue legal action — MICRA preserves full access to justice — but because they get what they actually need. Answers.

The trial lawyers in our group hear the same story from their clients: "I just wanted to know what happened. If someone would have just apologized." The doctors in our group repeatedly stated they want to be able to connect with patients after serious adverse outcomes. There's profound humanity in those desires. MICRA delivers answers, empathy and accountability when needed.

This solution requires us to do what many have forgotten: stay in difficult conversations. We may not agree on everything, but we can find common ground far more often than not. 

That's the future we believe possible for New Mexico. 

We're introducing MICRA this legislative session because our health care system needs solutions built through genuine partnership — solutions that serve patients, support providers and restore human connection at the heart of healing. 

Rep. Marianna Anaya, D-Albuquerque, is a first-term legislator for District 18 and serves on the House Health and Human Services Committee.