League of Women Voters urges support for New Mexico's Senate Bill 14 healthcare oversight

The Senate Judiciary Committee of New Mexico convened on March 8, 2025, to discuss several key issues, with a significant focus on Senate Bill 14, which aims to regulate the consolidation of healthcare facilities in the state. The meeting began with public comments, allowing stakeholders to express their views on the proposed legislation.

The first speaker, representing the League of Women Voters of New Mexico, emphasized the importance of SB 14 in ensuring comprehensive healthcare access for all residents. The speaker highlighted concerns about the potential negative impacts of healthcare consolidation, citing examples from Massachusetts where hospital closures followed corporate takeovers. They urged the committee to support SB 14 to provide necessary oversight and protect healthcare access in New Mexico.

Following this, Erica Sanchez, a healthcare attorney from the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, voiced her support for the bill. She pointed out that hospital consolidations often adversely affect rural communities, forcing patients to travel long distances for care. Sanchez stressed the need for transparency in healthcare transactions, arguing that SB 14 would help safeguard local healthcare priorities and maintain access to services.

The committee then shifted to hear opposition to the bill. Julia Ritten, Senior Director of Government Affairs for the New Mexico Hospital Association, spoke on behalf of 47 community hospital members, expressing their concerns regarding SB 14. The opposition raised issues about the potential implications of increased regulation on hospital operations and the overall healthcare system in New Mexico.

The meeting concluded with a structured discussion of the various perspectives on SB 14, highlighting the ongoing debate about healthcare consolidation and its effects on communities across the state. The committee is expected to deliberate further on the bill, weighing the need for oversight against the operational realities faced by healthcare providers.