Community Health Leaders Voice Urgent Concerns to New Mexico Attorney General: What You Need to Know

LAS VEGAS — On April 15, local health leaders shared their biggest worries with New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez at a meeting organized by the Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation. Two pressing issues stood out: how to recruit more doctors and how to reduce the number of patients being flown out of Las Vegas for medical care.

Torrez wanted to hear directly from these leaders about the challenges they face in rural communities. He expressed particular concern about ongoing changes in healthcare policies at the national level. “We’ve seen significant shifts that impact veterans, SNAP benefits, and emergency healthcare,” he noted. His commitment, he said, is to ensure that citizens have access to the resources they deserve.

Helen Ballantyne, CEO of Alta Vista Regional Hospital, emphasized the urgent need for better mental healthcare services. She pointed out that many people seeking help in the emergency department don’t get the treatment they need because local resources are limited. Although the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute is located in Las Vegas, its state hospital status makes it hard for locals to access its services. “They have to serve patients from all over New Mexico,” Ballantyne explained, resulting in many local patients being transferred out of state for necessary care.

The discussion turned to how to attract and keep more doctors in the area. Both Ballantyne and Guadalupe County Commissioner Randal Brown suggested the creation of a rural residency program. This program could train new doctors in the community, potentially making them more likely to stay long-term.

Local physician Matthew Probst mentioned SB 380, a recent bill related to healthcare training. Although it didn’t progress past the Senate Finance Committee, funding for a rural training program within the University of New Mexico’s family residency program was secured. This initiative will start in Silver City, but Las Vegas might be next if the pilot is successful. “If it works, it could benefit the whole state,” Probst added.

There was also mention of HB 014, which included a component that would have waived taxes for providers serving Medicaid patients. However, this bill was vetoed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Elmo Baca, the Community Foundation director, highlighted Torrez’s interest in understanding how federal healthcare policy changes could affect rural health services in New Mexico. “The attorney general is focused on the impact of federal policy on healthcare here,” he said.

Beyond gathering information, the meeting allowed local healthcare providers to communicate directly. Facilities like Alta Vista and Sunrise Clinic exchanged insights and got a clearer picture of the challenges at hand. It was a valuable opportunity to discuss issues that affect their operations and patient care.

In summary, the conversation at this roundtable showed a clear focus on enhancing healthcare access in Las Vegas. With dedicated efforts at the local and state levels, there is hope for improvements that could lead to better healthcare availability for all residents. As rural areas continue to grapple with healthcare shortages, the support for programs like rural residencies will be vital in shaping a stronger medical community in New Mexico.

For more information on the impact of healthcare policy, you can read this report from Health Affairs, which discusses the challenges of rural healthcare access in the United States.

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