The Chile Wire announced on X from a New Mexico Legislative Task Force hearing that Senator Craig Brandt called for a reduction in trial lawyer influence and an overhaul of the malpractice system amid rising insurance premiums and physician shortages.
According to Searchlight New Mexico, the state's healthcare system is under increasing pressure due to soaring malpractice insurance costs and declining physician retention, particularly in rural areas. The report notes that legislative changes in 2021, which raised the cap on liability from $600,000 to $6 million, have driven insurance premiums sharply higher—forcing some clinics and hospitals to scale back operations. Searchlight New Mexico emphasized that these rising costs, tied to unresolved malpractice policy debates, have created conditions where trial lawyers benefit while patient access to care continues to shrink.
Searchlight New Mexico also reports that state workforce data show New Mexico lost 248 active physicians between 2019 and 2024—the only state in the region to experience a net loss during that period. Many of these physicians cited rising liability insurance costs and fear of litigation as reasons for leaving, especially after malpractice coverage premiums rose by as much as 500% in certain fields. These figures highlight the consequences of policy gridlock and the failure to enact balanced reform that would curb trial lawyer excesses while protecting medical access.
Further according to Searchlight New Mexico, a dark-money organization known as New Mexico Safety Over Profit—linked to the state's trial lawyer lobby—has spent heavily to block proposed reforms that would limit attorney fees or introduce caps on damages. The New Mexico State Ethics Commission has filed a lawsuit against the group, alleging campaign finance and disclosure violations related to its anti-reform activities. The investigation illustrates how well-funded legal networks use opaque funding and political pressure to preserve their financial interests in New Mexico's high-liability environment.
According to its official social media profiles, The Chile Wire is a New Mexico–based independent news outlet covering state policy, legislative proceedings, and political developments with a focus on transparency and reform. The platform frequently reports from the Capitol and interim committees, providing real-time coverage of issues like healthcare, malpractice reform, and government accountability. The Chile Wire positions itself as a watchdog for state policy and an advocate for solutions that protect families, small businesses, and local communities.
