Senator Pat Woods Issues Statement Following Advancement of Bill to Support Rural Hospitals

SANTA FE—Today, the Senate Finance Committee advanced Senate Bill 161, sponsored bySenator Pat Woods (R-Broadview), with unanimous, bipartisan support. The bill provides a lifeline to rural hospitals that offer emergency services, several of which are facing closure due to the increased burdens of medical malpractice, a lack of providers, and a bevy of other issues. 

Senator Woods issued the following statement regarding the advancement of his bill:

“While the state coffers are dealing with another year of prosperity thanks to oil and gas, many of our essential services such as rural hospitals are facing dire straits. We have created a death squeeze on our rural hospitals, forcing patients to drive to the metro or out of state for care. Without this bridge funding, our rural hospitals will not survive the transition to a more sustainable business model to continue meeting the health care needs of rural New Mexico.”