February Is National Heart Health Awareness Month—Community Blood Drives Throughout The Month
Three opportunities to donate blood with Vitalant in the month of February. Sign up today at www.vitalant.org or call them today. Look for the Promo Code for a gift card. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
Champions of Youth Ambitions
Did you know February is National Heart Health Awareness Month? Vitalant would like to help bring much needed awareness on how important transfusions are to the critical aspect of managing cardiac surgery patients . An estimated 50% of cardiac surgery patients require a blood transfusion and with it being the month of love, Read More
New Mexico House Passes $11 Billion Budget, Rejects Paying Counties With ICE Jails
Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces
Chair
House Appropriations and Finance Committee
By ESTEBAN CANDELARIA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
At the halfway point of this year’s 30-day session, the House approved a proposed spending plan setting aside a little more than $11 billion in recurring spending with boosts in spending for a number of early childhood, health care and public safety initiatives.
House Bill 2, which currently proposes a 2.7% increase in recurring spending for the coming fiscal year, reflects an effort by legislators to make “responsible investments,” Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Read More
DEA And NFL Alumni Health Team Up On Football’s Biggest Stage To Tackle Fentanyl Crisis
DEA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — For a third consecutive year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and NFL Alumni Health (NFLAH) are joining forces to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and spreading a critical message: One Pill Can Kill.
Building on the success of the last two years, this collaboration supports DEA’s newest initiative, Fentanyl Free America, with the goal of reducing demand for fentanyl and protecting communities from its devastating impacts.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is often pressed into counterfeit pills designed to look like prescription medications Read More
Reasonable Malpractice Reform Benefits Every New Mexican
By DAYMON ELY
Attorney
Former New Mexico Representative
At its heart, the debate over medical malpractice reform is not about trial lawyers or corporate profits – it is about our most basic values. Every New Mexican deserves access to quality health care. And every New Mexican deserves justice when that care falls tragically short.
Medical malpractice is rare. Fewer than 1% of medical providers are responsible for the vast majority of malpractice claims, but when tragedy strikes and a patient is harmed or killed, that patient or their family needs to know that they can get justice in a Read More
Primary Care Conference Open To Health Care Professionals
HCA News:
The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) invites all primary care clinicians, clinic administrators, health system leaders, and Medicaid stakeholders to attend a one-day conference focused on advancing value-based care and strengthening primary care in New Mexico.
- What: Helping Primary Care Practices Succeed: PCPR VBP Program Winter Conference
- When: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Where: Embassy Suites by Hilton, 1000 Woodward Place, Albuquerque, NM 87102
- Register Now Through Eventbrite: Helping Primary Care Practices Succeed: PCPR VBP Program Winter Conference
Medical Community Opposes HB 213 Citing Patient Safety, Surgical Standards, And Proper Oversight
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Local medical students, ophthalmology residents, and doctors provided public comments cautioning policymakers that eye surgery is complex, high-risk medical care that requires physician-led training, supervision, and oversight to protect patient safety. Despite references in committee to a stakeholder compromise, no consensus exists among physicians or professional organizations regarding the expansion of laser eye surgery authority in HB 213.
HB 213 was rolled by the House Health and Human Services Committee and will be heard by the committee on Wednesday Read More
Fuselier: Loss And Grief For Seniors
By BOB FUSELIER
Los Alamos
We’ve all faced losses, whether the loss be a loved one, a career, a pet, a relationship, or way of life. As we age, we also face the loss of our health, abilities, and freedom to be independent. Eventually, we must all come to terms with the greatest loss we will ever face, our own death.
Unfortunately, we’re not always allowed to grieve our losses. The sense of separation, confusion, regret, guilt, constant sadness, and anger can be signs of ungrieved losses. We can’t avoid loss, but we can make sure we allow ourselves to go through the healing process of loss, what we know Read More
Sen. David Gallegos Introduces Critical ‘Safe Haven Baby Box’ Legislation, Requests Message From Governor
Sen. David Gallegos with the Martinez Family and baby Michael, who was placed in a Safe Haven Baby Box in Belen in 2024 and adopted by the Martinez family in 2025. Courtesy photo
New Mexico Senate Republicans News:
SANTA FE — Senate Republican Caucus Chair David Gallegos (R-Eunice) introduced necessary legislation (SB 206) on Jan. 30 to ensure the protection of women who may elect to anonymously place their newborn child in a ‘Safe Haven Baby Box’.
If passed, this legislation would alleviate potential legal exposure that local communities throughout New Mexico have cited as the primary reason Read More
New Mexico House Panel Passes Medical Malpractice Bill–Without Protections For Corporate Hospitals
Rep. Elaine Sena Cortez, R-Hobbs, right, gets emotional while discussing her mother’s battle with cancer during a House Health and Human Services Committee hearing Friday on amendments to House Bill 99 at the state Capitol. HB 99 calls for caps on punitive damages in medical malpractice cases in New Mexico. Photo by Matt Dahlseid/The New Mexican
By CLARA BATES
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The day before Valarie Gee’s son underwent a routine cardiac procedure, he was “jumping in the swimming pool” and running around, she said.
The next day, she added, the procedure left him paralyzed.
“When medical Read More
New Mexico Medical Society Addresses HB 99
From the New Mexico Medical Society:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Medical Society (NMMS) is encouraged that HB 99 has advanced out of the House Health & Human Services Committee, reflecting bipartisan recognition that New Mexico must act to stabilize access to healthcare and address the growing physician shortage.
At the same time, the Medical Society is deeply concerned about an amendment adopted in committee that leaves a considerable number of healthcare organizations exposed to uncapped punitive damages.
Protecting access to care requires a coherent and consistent medical liability Read More
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Announces DOJ Launch Of Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Online Claims Portal
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a new online portal for Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) claims, implementing the recently extended and expanded program.
Prior to the launch of this online portal, Sen. Luján and the New Mexico Delegation sent an open letter to New Mexico’s holders of health care records, birth and death records, tax records, school records and any other necessary records to request their full cooperation in delivering long overdue justice for Read More
House Bill Would Expand Medicare Consumer Protections
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE – State aging and insurance officials are urging lawmakers to support Senate Bill 21 and strengthen consumer protections for Medicare enrollees who have Medigap coverage.
The bill would allow beneficiaries enrolled in Original Medicare and Medigap supplemental to change Medigap plans during an annual open enrollment period, preventing insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. The bill is sponsored by Senators Liz Stefanics, Pete Campos, Rex Wilson, Martin Hickey, and Representative Tara Lujan.
“Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare—especially Read More
Senate Conservation Committee Unanimously Advances $2 Million Mosquito Monitoring Plan That Would Be ‘Early Warning System’ For New Mexico
Егор Камелев/Pixabay via Public DomainBy LILY ALEXANDER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
For Albuquerque Republican Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, the fight against mosquitoes is personal now.
In September, Tobiassen’s husband contracted West Nile virus and spent four and a half months in the intensive care unit “fighting for his life”, she said Thursday during a committee hearing for Senate Bill 79.
The measure would appropriate $2 million to the New Mexico Department of Health for mosquito surveillance, prevention and mitigation in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
“He survived — against the odds, might I Read More
Negotiations On New Mexico Medical Malpractice Bill Stall Over Punitive Damages
HB99 Sponsor Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos
By CLARA BATES and MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A group convened by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to come to an agreement on changing the state’s medical malpractice law was still negotiating behind the scenes the week of a key House committee hearing on the measure.
One sticking point, according to an attorney participating in the talks, has been whether or not to cap punitive damages for hospitals.
House Bill 99, set for a debate before the House Health and Human Services Committee on Friday morning, would establish caps for Read More
5th Saturday Sale Saturday At Lobby Shop Inside LAMC!
Lawmakers Introduce Clear Horizons Act ‘To Protect New Mexico Families From Rising Costs’
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Lawmakers have formally introduced the Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 18), a plan to provide long-term planning, stability, and accountability from the harmful effects of polluting industries.
As New Mexican families continue to face rising costs associated with the waste and byproducts of polluting industries, leaders in Santa Fe are responding with actionable legislation.
The Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 18) responds to the real and growing costs New Mexicans are already paying as extreme weather becomes more frequent and severe. New data presented to legislators Read More
GOP Senators Introduce Bill To End ‘Trial Lawyers’ Chokehold On New Mexico Healthcare’
Scene from the Roundhouse where Special Sessions are currently underway. Courtesy/Senate GOP
Sen. Craig Brandt is holding legislation that he and Senators Pat Woods, Nicole Tobiassen and Steve Lanier signed. Courtesy photo
Senate Republicans News:
SANTA FE — Four Republican Senators introduced a bill to prohibit obscene “punitive damages” payouts to trial lawyers at the expense of patients and doctors. In 2021, Democrats pushed through damaging increases to the punitive caps on medical malpractice claims, action that has created a crisis in healthcare access for New Mexico families. Read More
Satori Healing Serves People’s Physical And Mental Health
Dr. Patrick Martin, co-owner of Satori Healing, shows one of the rooms where patients can receive IV infusions. Satori Health, 2610 Trinity #14, offers a wide range of services. For more information, visit https://www.satorihealingnm.com/ or call 505.500.8213. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
While working in the hospital environment, Dr. Patrick Martin began wondering what other options were available to help the community, especially those struggling with mental health.
At times, he cared for challenging Read More
New Mexico House Unanimously Passes Seven Interstate Compact Bills To Expand Access To Healthcare
STATE News:
Op-Ed: A Deep Dive Into Medical Malpractice
By Rep. CHRISTINE CHANDLER (D-Los Alamos)
Chair of the House Judiciary Committee
Healthcare access is top of mind for everyone in New Mexico, rightfully so, as we see more and more doctors leave the state to practice elsewhere. There are many reasons for this exodus. All of these reasons need to be addressed, including (especially) the unbounded litigation environment created by New Mexico’s Medical Malpractice Act.
Bills implementing the medical compacts, expanding the medical school, ramping up recruitment with a generous loan repayment program, increasing residencies, enacting Read More