OPINION: We must take swift action to put health professionals over trial lawyers

Need a doctor but cannot get in to see one? What good is paying for health insurance if you cannot receive care?

That’s one reason I decided to run for representative in House District 44. I am worried about my aging mother, my husband, and even myself, if health care services are not reliable or provided in a timely manner. My neighbors and friends are struggling, too. That’s what they tell me firsthand as I meet with residents in our district.

I remember when New Mexico was considered a bright spot for doctors and patients. You could find a doctor relatively easily, your health insurance was affordable and reliable, and getting in to see a specialist didn’t mean having to wait six months to a year or going to another state to be treated.

Health care experts now predict that New Mexico could be down more than 1,300 doctors and over 5,000 nurses if things don’t change soon.

Many are asking: Why has health care gotten so bad? Why do doctors come to New Mexico and leave after short periods of time? Why is the governor advertising in neighboring states to attract providers?

The answer? An unfriendly business climate, a failing public educational system, and a serious crime problem — all capped off by the worst record for child well-being in the country. Health care providers simply will not consider New Mexico as a top contender to put down roots and raise a family.

What the state Legislature has done to dramatically increase medical malpractice insurance rates, expanding Medicaid enrollment, and creating greater demands on the health care system is a recipe for disaster for New Mexico.

The forecast for the future is bleak. No wonder doctors and other medical providers are taking a pass on New Mexico. Why work in a state where the deck is so heavily stacked against you?

Equally important, we need to transform New Mexico into a place where medical providers and their families feel secure, and their children can get a world-class education. If the average New Mexican doesn’t feel safe to work and raise a family here, why would any medical provider feel differently?

Yes, the Legislature has made some small, positive improvements for the medical community by enacting tax reductions and increasing reimbursement rates for Medicaid. Unfortunately, it is only a drop in the bucket of what must be done to bring back our doctors, nurses and advanced practitioners.

It’s just not enough. Significant liability/tort reform, greater tax incentives, and more scholarships for medical and nursing students are just a few examples of the immediate steps needed to stop the medical hemorrhaging going on right now.

Democrats in the state Legislature have represented majority decisions, which significantly impact our people and create the problems we face today. The good news? Voters can affect change this election cycle.

The old thought-models and status quo are not working in New Mexico. We must take swift and decisive action to prioritize our health care professionals over the political power of trial lawyers, teacher unions, and activist nonprofit organizations.

If the current Legislature continues to coddle criminals, our state’s health care system will continue to fall short. Long wait times for appointments, higher health care costs, and fewer highly rated doctors/specialists will continue for the foreseeable future if voters continue to elect the same legislators.

I am committed to listening to the residents in my community and addressing their needs to receive timely medical help, and live in safer communities. Together we can send a resounding message to effect positive change this election.

Coverage without care is simply not a viable option.

Ali Ennenga, of Albuquerque, is the Republican candidate for District 44 in the New Mexico House of Representatives. She faces Democratic incumbent Kathleen Cates in the Nov. 5 election to represent the Rio Rancho-based district.