New Mexico Physician Shortage Facts
THE PROBLEM
Physician supply lags behind patient demand nationally and across New Mexico. As supply falls, patients wait longer to see a doctor, and doctors burn out.
By 2030
The U.S. is projected to have 120,000 too few doctors nationally.1,2,3
- Nearly 40% of American physicians will reach retirement age.
- The United States will face a shortage of over 120,000 physicians.
New Mexico is projected to be short 2,118 doctors.4,5
- Primary care alone is projected to be short 326 providers.
- There are only 95 residency slots in New Mexico for primary care each year.
- 45.2% of those residents will practice out of state.
New Mexico ranks in the bottom half of states for primary care and physician availability.6
32 of New Mexico’s 33 counties are health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).7,8,9
- Low-income citizens are disproportionately affected by these shortages.
- HPSA designations indicate areas where there are 3,500 or more patients for every one provider.
- 1,027,943 New Mexico residents live in an HPSA.
New Mexico’s physician-to-patient ratio is 16% worse than the national average:
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