New Mexico Urged to Join Interstate Compacts for Rural Doctor Recruitment
New Mexico's current medical licensing rules require out-of-state doctors to navigate a lengthy process to practice here. This has hindered recruitment efforts for rural hospitals like Guadalupe County Hospital (GCH). Now, the former GCH administrator is urging the Legislature to join interstate health care worker compacts to simplify this process.
Interstate Health Care Worker Compacts aim to streamline staff recruitment and telehealth specialist access for rural hospitals. These agreements allow doctors licensed in other states to immediately practice in participating states. However, New Mexico has not yet joined these compacts, despite no formal barriers preventing it.
The former GCH administrator has publicly called for the Legislature to join these interstate agreements. This move could benefit rural hospitals like GCH, which often struggle to attract and retain medical professionals due to the current licensing process.
Joining the Interstate Health Care Worker Compacts could simplify staff recruitment and telehealth access for New Mexico's rural hospitals. The former GCH administrator's request to the Legislature highlights the potential benefits of participating in these interstate agreements.
