NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico is short of hundreds of doctors; many point to the expense of extremely high insurance premiums in the state as a reason it is tough to do business here. Now, the state is trying to help out a grant program that could mean tens of thousands in state money to give physicians and midwives relief from those premiums.
“We absolutely could use more providers in our birthing workforce; we need a robust, multidisciplinary workforce. We need midwives and physicians who are interested in working together to make sure we meet the needs of New Mexicans in all of our communities,” said Abigail Reese, maternal health program manager with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH).
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Reese says the cost of malpractice insurance can be a significant expense for this workforce. “And, the costs continue to rise as people remain in practice even if they have no claims, even if they have no bad outcomes. Just the longevity in practice leads to an increasing premium.” Reese said.
In 2008, the state legislature took steps to try to help offset costs with the ‘Birthing Workforce Retention Fund’ grants. “The Birthing Workforce Retention Fund is specifically about making sure that we’re doing something to address the fact that also those liability costs are high for this particular specialty,” Reese says.
Qualified applicants could get up to $10,000 in grant money. Reese says this aims to support and retain these physicians and midwives in the state, but also to hopefully attract more. “That workforce is very precious and limited for us and we want to be able to support an adequate workforce in our state,” Reese said.
NMDOH is still accepting applications for these grants until April 22.
To be eligible for an award, applicants must fill out the Birthing Workforce Fund application at https://www.nmhealth.org/publication/view/form/1717/ and a state Substitute W-9 form. They must also:
Be a CNM or physician licensed in New Mexico who provides birthing services.
Show that New Mexico Medicaid-insured or indigent patients accounted for at least one-half of the births the provider attended during the previous two calendar years.
Have a current malpractice liability insurance policy covering birthing services.
Show intent to continue full scope practice, including birthing services, in New Mexico during the period covered by the award.
Sign an attestation (included on the application) stating that the award will not be used to purchase extended reporting period coverage for any existing malpractice insurance policy.
