Rich Ringrose, owner and publisher of Albuquerque City Lifestyle, said that New Mexico's poor healthcare performance is discouraging employers and talented professionals from locating or staying in the state. This statement was made during a podcast interview.
"New Mexico needs tremendous help within the healthcare industry, as it's rated the worst out of all 50 states every year," said Ringrose, Owner/Publisher. "We need to wrap our heads around how to attract the best and brightest to stay in or come to New Mexico, which is a big reason why many companies don't move here. I've experienced good healthcare on the East Coast and faced issues here, and many people say the same."
The quality and accessibility of healthcare in the United States remain highly uneven, with significant differences from state to state. According to the Commonwealth Fund’s 2025 Scorecard on State Health System Performance, which evaluates states on 50 metrics including access, affordability, outcomes, and equity, where a person lives still strongly influences their chances of receiving high-quality care and living a healthy life.
In the 2025 scorecard, New Mexico ranks 31st overall for health system performance. The report highlights that 13% of adults in the state lack insurance and several measures of access and outcomes lag behind those of top-performing states.
Business site-selection research indicates that quality-of-life considerations—including access to strong healthcare systems—are increasingly important in corporate location decisions. A 2021 Area Development survey found "quality of life" ranked as the fourth most important factor for U.S. executives when choosing locations. A New Mexico workforce report also identifies provider shortages and gaps in access as major obstacles to recruiting and retaining workers statewide.
Ringrose owns and publishes the Las Cruces–area magazine Albuquerque City Lifestyle. He previously worked in healthcare administration after relocating to New Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally from Connecticut, he spent several years living in Virginia before his move.
