New Mexico has become a testing ground for billionaire-backed private healthcare systems, with for-profit hospitals increasing at rates that exceed even California, New York, and Texas. Private equity firms have spent $115 billion buying healthcare companies, and now one in five U.S. patients receives care at investor-owned facilities.
These companies follow a calculated playbook: they establish “community” foundations, partner with business leaders, and fund think tanks to shape policy narratives. The same foundations that benefit from healthcare privatization simultaneously drive conversations about healthcare reform solutions.
How Private Equity Operates in New Mexico
Private equity-backed companies like CHRISTUS Health have acquired local hospitals, including St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, in 2023. This sale created the Anchorum Health Foundation, funded entirely by CHRISTUS money, which now significantly influences state healthcare policy.
Organizations like Think New Mexico and Imagine New Mexico appear grassroots with local imagery and residents discussing healthcare reform. However, According to a report in Progress Now, for-profit private equity firms, oil, and gas companies are backing these groups. Their leadership includes individuals with direct ties to corporate healthcare interests, creating a complex web of financial relationships.
Policy Initiatives Benefit Corporate Interests
Think New Mexico champions policies that primarily benefit private equity healthcare companies rather than patients. Their proposals include capping malpractice payouts, creating a $2 billion public fund, and repealing gross-receipts taxes on medical bills. These are all measures that increase corporate profit margins.
These policy changes allow private equity firms to operate like regulated monopolies, raising rates and cutting services while maximizing profits for out-of-state investors. When out-of-state investors buy local hospitals, healthcare becomes more expensive, and communities can no longer influence hospital decisions.
Additional Threats to Healthcare
Recent federal budget cuts targeting New Mexico’s Medicaid funding compound these problems. Low-income families, elderly residents, and rural communities are already struggling with healthcare access. Budget cuts could lead them to face even greater barriers when private equity prioritizes profits over care.
How This Affects Nursing Home Residents
This healthcare privatization trend directly impacts nursing home residents and their families. When private equity firms prioritize profits over patient care, vulnerable elderly residents face increased risks of neglect and abuse.
Families need to recognize the warning signs of these systemic changes so they can make informed decisions about their loved ones’ care. As Legal advocates, we are committed to staying informed about these industry shifts to better protect nursing home abuse and neglect victims. If corporate-owned facilities contribute to abuse or negligence in nursing homes, they must be held accountable for maintaining proper care standards.
Has Your Loved Suffered Abuse or Neglect in a Nursing Home? Call Today.
At PKSDi, our experienced Albuquerque nursing home abuse lawyers are ready to fight for nursing home residents who have been victims of abuse or neglect. If your loved one has been harmed by the abuse or neglect of nursing home staff or caregivers, contact our trusted law firm today. We currently accept cases in Wisconsin, New Mexico, and Iowa.
PKSD. Experienced lawyers fighting for you: 505-677-7777.
