Jim Townsend, a state senator for New Mexico's District 34, said the legislature is not addressing issues related to "medical malpractice costs and the constant decline in medical services available to New Mexico." He made that statement in a post on X on March 6.

"Medical Malpractice costs and the constant decline in medical services available to NM is a real problem that the Legislature has failed to address at the cost of New Mexicans' health," said Townsend.

According to Townsend's opinion piece linked in the post, New Mexico was the only state to experience a decline in physicians in 2024, with over 2,200 physician job vacancies. The editorial highlights that fewer independent doctors remain due to threats of medical malpractice and high insurance costs. Medical malpractice insurance now exceeds $43,000, and legislation passed in 2021 has increased doctors' liability. Townsend wrote that when he sought solutions, leadership informed him they would not address the issue until trial attorneys were involved.

Screenshot of State Senator Jim Townsend's March 6post on X. | X

An October report from Yahoo News discussed the shortage of doctors and healthcare providers in New Mexico. Officials cited factors such as a high percentage of Medicaid patients, changes to medical malpractice laws, and an unfavorable tax system as reasons for reduced profitability in healthcare businesses. The report also noted that the state legislature increased the cap on medical malpractice claims in 2020, setting it at $5 million for hospitals and health systems and $75,000 for individual doctors by 2024. This rise in lawsuits and payout caps has driven up insurance costs.

Think New Mexico is advocating for Senate Bill 176, which proposes capping attorney fees in medical malpractice lawsuits at 25% and allocating 75% of punitive damages to a new fund aimed at patient safety improvements. The bill also seeks to end lump-sum payments from the Patient Compensation Fund.

James G. Townsend is a Republican politician from Eddy County who served as Minority Leader in the New Mexico House of Representatives before being elected senator for District 34 in 2024. He is recognized for his focus on energy policy and rural development.