Connect with us

New Mexico

A healthcare foundation for changing lives in New Mexico

Published

on

A healthcare foundation for changing lives in New Mexico


New Mexico’s rural healthcare system—foundational not just to the well-being of the many New Mexicans but also to the welfare of the state as a whole—is getting much needed attention this legislative session. If this attention is transformed into support by the end of the session on February 15, the results could be life-changing in many parts of the states.

Two-thirds of New Mexicans live in areas identified as having a health provider shortage by the federal government and many of those live in rural communities, where travel distances and reduced hospital services contribute to higher mortality rates, poorer maternal and child health, more cases of untreated chronic pain, and more substance abuse. Accessing routine care in the 26 of 33 New Mexico counties that are largely rural can involve multi-hour drives to the closest provider. Accessing emergency care can be close to impossible.

Healthcare policy experts report rural hospitals, often the only healthcare available to surrounding communities, are facing financial pressures, challenging patient needs, and other pressures and closing throughout the country. While accessing healthcare has become challenging everywhere, rural populations are losing services at higher rates than urban areas. In many ways, rural hospitals are suffering from economic long-Covid; they are still feeling the impacts of the financial losses of the pandemic and must deal with increases in medical malpractice insurance costs, workforce shortages, and rising costs from a depleted position.

Advertisement

The shutdown of a small, rural hospital reverberates throughout the community and throughout the state. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are economic drivers, supporting one in 12 jobs in their communities on average. Rural patients who don’t have care close to home put greater pressure on emergency and healthcare transportation services and add to the patient load of rural healthcare facilities that are already at capacity.

Most importantly, New Mexico cannot expect to succeed—cannot expect to see its children thrive academically and emotionally or its adults prosper economically or socially—if New Mexicans are not healthy.

Over the last few years, the Legislature has taken significant steps to improve healthcare access in rural New Mexico, investing $364 million last year alone in incentivizing new and expanding rural health providers, supporting rural and tribal hospitals, and raising Medicaid payments to healthcare providers.

Advertisement

This year, I am sponsoring a plan that would create a $70 million health facility viability fund to provide grants to healthcare providers that reestablish or expand services in medically underserved areas with operating costs and other expenses. Other legislation under consideration includes proposals to provide $51 million in emergency funding to small rural and frontier hospitals, $60 million for student loan payments for healthcare professionals, and $50 million for quarterly subsidies for small, acute care hospitals that face financial struggles because of patients’ unpaid bills, unaffordable medical malpractice and property insurance, and declining Medicare payments. In addition, legislators are discussing a bill that would leverage a pool of hospital payments with federal funds to raise Medicaid payments to the same level as those paid by commercial insurers.

Almost 200 rural hospitals have shut down nationwide in the last 18 years, and in New Mexico, one hospital has shut down and 15 have cut back services. Rural New Mexicans are losing access to essential services and their communities are losing jobs. The failure of rural hospitals exacerbates persistent health and economic inequities.

We have an opportunity this legislative session to build on the progress we’ve made to turn this failure around. Success in tearing down the barriers to rural healthcare will mean greater success for all New Mexicans.

Sen. Pete Campos, a Democrat from Las Vegas who holds a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s in guidance and counseling, has been a member of the Senate since 1991 and a member of the Senate Finance Committee since 1997. Campos is also a member of the Legislative Finance, Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy, and Water and Natural Resources committees. He has served as the senator from District 8 in northern New Mexico since 1991 and has served as president of Luna Community College, superintendent of the Las Vegas City Schools, and mayor of Santa Rosa.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

New Mexico

New Mexico Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Day results for Jan. 27, 2025

Published

on


The New Mexico Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 27, 2025, results for each game:

Powerball

02-40-47-53-55, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Day: 5-1-3

Advertisement

Evening: 2-6-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Lotto America

03-07-21-33-45, Star Ball: 02, ASB: 04

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Evening: 1-9-7-0

Advertisement

Day: 2-8-4-0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Roadrunner Cash

09-19-24-25-27

Check Roadrunner Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Powerball Double Play

01-09-34-63-67, Powerball: 06

Advertisement

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

Advertisement

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Las Cruces Sun-News editor. You can send feedback using this form.



Source link

Continue Reading

New Mexico

NM Legislature Day 5 recap: Senior Day shenanigans • Source New Mexico

Published

on

NM Legislature Day 5 recap: Senior Day shenanigans • Source New Mexico


Hundreds of New Mexicans convened today at the Roundhouse for day 5 of the legislative session. 

For the first half of the day, the Roundhouse was packed with older New Mexicans, caregivers and advocates in honor of Senior Day, hosted by the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department. Secretary-Designate Emily Kaltenbach said several hundred people attended.

“Those stories you share will have a direct impact on the budget we get for our department this year,” Kaltenbach told the crowd in the rotunda. “That budget, which I think is very reasonable this year but critically needed, will support aging in place, providing services in our homes and our communities.”

Fern Reyna, Laverne Zaragoza and Alfie Levaldo traveled from Acoma Pueblo to ask lawmakers for additional funds for the senior center. 

Advertisement

“We’re looking to build a computer center, so we can learn to use computers and our smartphones, which are way too smart for us,” Zaragoza quipped. 

In addition, Levaldo said the pueblo needs additional funds to expand services with an assisted living facility and a daycare.

Adrienne Smith, president and CEO of the New Mexico Caregivers Coalition, joined the crowd to encourage people to find their legislators and share with them their personal stories of caring for loved ones.

“I’ll tell you what, if you’re not a caregiver now, I bet you will be,” Smith said. 

She specifically asked Senior Day attendees to encourage lawmakers to reactivate the Long-Term Services Division and call for more direct funding for family caregivers.

Advertisement
Ernest Smith, 61, and Emily Wauneka 66, the Elder King and Queen from both from the Sheep Springs Chapter of the Navajo Nation, sit in the Rotunda for Senior Day. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department seeks $1M to reactivate key division

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also made an appearance at Senior Day, where she maintained her stance on public safety, promising New Mexicans that legislators would address stricter sentencing for drug offenses. 

Bill Watch

The Paid Family & Medical Leave Act received its first committee hearing this morning in the House Health & Human Services Committee and passed by a 6-4 vote. 

Both bills before the Senate Rules Committee moved on. Senate Bill 85, which proposes expanded definitions of expenditures and donations in campaigns, received a unanimous 9-0 pass, while Senate Bill 5, which reforms the state’s game commission, received two amendments and passed by a 7-2 vote.

Tomorrow, committees are getting warmed up with big bills. House Bill 4 on criminal competency, one of the top priorities by both lawmakers and the governor, will be heard in the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee at its 1:30 p.m. meeting.

Advertisement

Senate Conservation Committee has a full slate, with Senate Bill 4, the Clear Horizons Act first up, which would codify state emission reduction goals into law. Committee members will also hear two bills on stream protections, which you can read more about here. The agenda concludes with Senate Bill 23 which proposes increases to the state’s oil and gas royalty rates. NM State Land Office Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard backed earlier this month.

House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. to discuss a proposed one-mile buffer zone preventing oil and gas companies from producing pollution around schools, daycare facilities and public parks. 

Pups in the people’s house

Dolores Aragon drove up from Clovis, with Pumpkin and Boo, both aged 6, to show up in the Roundhouse on Jan. 27, 2025 for Senior’s Day. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

Phillip Mondragon and Dolores Aragon brought their two dogs, Boo and Pumpkin, with them to Senior Day, driving up from Clovis on Sunday. Mondragon told Source NM that their 6-year-old service pups go everywhere with them to help Aragon with her sight.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

Advertisement



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

New Mexico

Families host non-local New Mexico Ice Wolves players

Published

on

Families host non-local New Mexico Ice Wolves players


Many of the Ice Wolves players come from all around the U.S. and don’t have a place to stay so families in New Mexico are a big help.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Hockey season is well underway, including for our New Mexico Ice Wolves whose out-of-state players are finding themselves right at home here.

Players are all about 17-22 years old. They’re either finishing up high school or taking a gap year before college in hopes of getting NCAA Division I scholarships. Many of them are not only from out of state but also out of the country so they need a place to stay while achieving their goals.

That is where families, like the Shipley family, come in handy.

Advertisement

“She said, ‘Hey, we had this, this young guy, he needs to place a sleep tonight. We’ve already talked about it. Can we do it?’ And I just told her to please make a good decision,” Jeremy Shipley said.

That decision grew Shipley’s family of four to five. They’re letting 18-year-old Connor Hanley have a place to stay while he chases his dreams.

“We were obviously a little nervous in the beginning to open up our home to someone that’s a complete stranger. But just in the short amount of time that Connor’s been here, we’ve really grown,” Jackie Shipley said.

Connor joined the Shipley family in the middle of the season. Since he came to live with them in September, he has become a part of the family.

“It’s been great to see how he interacts with the kids, how he fits right in with like, our life and all the things we do,” Jackie said.

Advertisement

Ten-year-old Easton explained things were a bit awkward in the beginning.

“At first, we were getting to know each other. But then as time went on, we started to get more comfortable with each other,” Easton said.

Now, Easton and seven-year-old Boden feel like Connor is their big brother. They have a lucky stick at home.

It’s lucky because Connor signed it and gave it to them.

With all of the players who come here, like Liam Waugh from Georgia and Tim Hewko from Ann Arbor, Michigan, rookie forwards whom we also talked to, the New Mexico Ice Wolves does their best to not only match up similar lifestyles but also personalities.

Advertisement

“If a player says, ‘I love teaching little kids how to skate or play hockey,’ and I know this family has a couple of kids, I’m like, ‘Ah, that might be a match!’ I meet them and I talk to them, and I just get a sense of who they are. And then I talk to the player and the player’s family. I get a sense of who they are and then I just let my gut kind of do the talking,” explained Tina Tomlin, the host coordinator for the New Mexico Ice Wolves.

Tomlin also hosts a player – goalie Jackson Fuller.

For hosting a player, each family gets $425 a month and discounts on merchandise and food at the rink.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending