Governor invites Texas health care professionals to New Mexico

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took part in a new initiative this weekend to encourage medical professionals in Texas to consider relocating to New Mexico as part of the “Free to Provide” campaign, which launched last week.

The "Free to Provide" campaign includes the deployment of billboards and full-page advertisements in five major Texas newspapers to highlight New Mexico’s commitment to protecting the full spectrum of health care, including abortion access.

In late July, six billboards with the slogan "Free to Provide" were placed in strategic locations around the Houston Medical Center encouraging health care professionals to consider relocating to New Mexico. On Sunday, the campaign expanded to include full-page ads in the Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman and Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

State Health Secretary Patrick Allen said nearly 120 hospitals, health care clinics and other employers have now partnered with the campaign, compared to about 36 employers at the start of the initiative.

He said state officials plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign before deciding whether to expand it into other states, but said Lujan Grisham saw an opportunity to focus on Texas with the recent full-page advertisements.

“She decided it was a good time to turn up the volume, and it’s certainly getting some attention,” Allen said in a Monday interview with the Albuquerque Journal.

The newspaper ads contain an open letter from Lujan Grisham to Texas medical professionals.

In her letter, the governor addresses challenges faced by Texas health care providers and extends an invitation to practice in New Mexico:

“Dear Texas health care providers,

"I know that legal restrictions on health care in Texas have created a heavy burden for medical practitioners — especially those of you now barred by law from providing the full spectrum of reproductive health care. It must be distressing that a draconian abortion ban has restricted your right to practice and turned it into a political weapon. ... I certainly respect those of you who remain committed to caring for patients in Texas, but I also invite those of you who can no longer tolerate these restrictions to consider practicing next door in New Mexico. We’re fiercely committed to protecting medical freedoms here and we’re taking steps to ensure that what happened in Texas never happens in New Mexico."

She went highlight New Mexico's "natural beauty," climate and its "highly professional medical community.

"We’ve always taken pride in protecting what makes us unique, and that includes protecting women’s health and abortion access. You have my word: I will never interfere with the fundamental right of health workers to care for their patients in New Mexico. Whether you are a nurse, a resident, a physician assistant, or a doctor, we cordially and enthusiastically invite you to the Land of Enchantment, where you are free to care for your patients," Lujan Grisham concluded.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve health care for New Mexico's residents by ensuring that the state attracts and retains top medical talent. With competitive incentives and a welcoming professional environment, New Mexico is working to become a leading destination for health care professionals seeking a rewarding and supportive place to practice.

"Today, we ran full-page advertisements in all five major Texas newspapers to let doctors know they are free to provide health care in NM without interference from politicians or police," Lujan Grisham posted on X.

In response to the ad blitz, a spokesman for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott fired back at Lujan Grisham’s claims by comparing the two states’ recent population growth.