John Block, a House representative from New Mexico, has raised concerns over rising malpractice insurance costs, which he claims are forcing rural hospitals to lose doctors and threatening access to care. Block urged reforms to the state's medical malpractice system in a statement made on X.
"New Mexico's broken medical malpractice laws are killing rural health care," said JOHN BLOCK, New Mexico State Representative for 51st District (R). "We are just one judgment away from going out of business. This is reckless, unjust, and harmful. It's time to put patients and providers first."
According to Searchlight New Mexico, the state's medical malpractice laws, characterized by high damage caps and unlimited punitive damages, have attracted out-of-state law firms. Approximately 80% of malpractice cases are filed by attorneys from Texas and other states. These policies have strained rural hospitals by increasing costs and exacerbating recruitment issues, contributing to a net loss of 248 practicing physicians from 2019 to 2024. New Mexico is reportedly the only state with such a decline during this period.
Malpractice insurance surcharges for independent practitioners in New Mexico increased by 12.1% in 2022 and by 10% in both 2023 and 2024. Despite legislative subsidies aimed at stabilizing the Patient Compensation Fund, these increases have created financial challenges for hospitals and physicians seeking to maintain coverage. This information was detailed in the 2025 Patient Compensation Fund Annual Report.
New Mexico's physician-to-population ratio stands at about one doctor per 1,500 residents, compared to the national average of one per 850. This makes it one of the worst-served states in terms of healthcare provision. According to the Cicerō Institute and the New Mexico Medical Society, all but one of its 33 counties are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas, leaving over one million residents underserved—a figure significantly higher than those in neighboring states.
John Block was born in 1997 and has served as a Republican member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for District 51 since January 2023. According to Wikipedia, he previously worked as a staffer and international affairs analyst for Chevron before becoming a political operative for Trump-aligned campaigns. He also founded The Piñon Post, a conservative news outlet.
