New Mexico State Representative Stefani Lord has publicly addressed the state's ongoing debate regarding its doctor shortage. In a statement made on X, Lord criticized trial attorney Ben Davis for describing the shortage as a "myth." She noted that Davis is the managing partner of a law firm that sues physicians.
"Ben Davis says the doctor shortage in New Mexico is a “myth," said Lord, New Mexico State Representative for 22nd District (R). "Ben Davis is the managing partner of Davis and Kelin, a leading New Mexico trial law firm. Ben Davis sues doctors."
According to The Santa Fe New Mexican, Davis published an op-ed titled "The doctor shortage: Myths vs. truths" on November 1, 2025. In his piece, he argued that claims of a statewide physician crisis are exaggerated. He said that shortages are primarily rural and occur in every state, pointing to national Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) data which show systemic distribution issues rather than absolute deficits. Davis also mentioned that malpractice reform would not significantly increase the number of doctors.
The HRSA's 2024 "State of the Primary Care Workforce" report highlighted that New Mexico had approximately 65 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average of 86 per 100,000. The report further indicated that 59% of New Mexico’s rural counties are federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas, highlighting structural access gaps.
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce reported that only 20.6% of University of New Mexico medical graduates remain in-state compared to a national average retention rate of 52.5%. This reflects significant physician outmigration and is attributed to high malpractice costs and rural staffing shortages, contributing to hospital recruitment challenges.
According to the New Mexico Legislature, Representative Stefani Lord has served District 22 (Bernalillo and Torrance Counties) since 2021 and is a member of the Consumer & Public Affairs Committee. She has been an advocate for healthcare access and malpractice reforms while supporting rural patient protections and fiscal restraint.
