The University of New Mexico Hospital has cut 53 leadership positions due to financial challenges and preparation for federal funding changes, according to UNM Health System Communications Director Chris Ramirez.
President Donald Trump is proposing to cut billions of dollars from the Department of Health and Human Services and millions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to Reuters.
“In order to be sure we are operating as efficiently as possible, and are as prepared as possible for federal funding changes which may lie ahead, we have implemented a number of financial improvement initiatives to prepare for federal funding changes which may lie ahead,” Ramirez wrote in a statement to the Daily Lobo.
The initiatives involve reviewing labor expenses, which includes the elimination of 53 leadership positions.
According to Ramirez, the positions were both vacant and filled. It was not stated how many of the positions were filled.
UNMH also reviewed its workflows to reduce operational costs and contract expenses, including labor, Ramirez wrote.
“Our mission of service to New Mexico means that we must deliver high-quality patient care in a financially sustainable model,” the statement reads.
In general, New Mexico is facing a healthcare worker shortage, according to a 2024 report from Think New Mexico.
New Mexico faces a growing shortage of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals and has the oldest physician workforce in the country, with over 39% of doctors age 60 or over, and expected to retire by 2030, according to the report.
Fred Nathan, founder and executive director of Think New Mexico, said 32 of the 33 counties in New Mexico are deemed to have a medical shortage.
“We're short nearly 5,000 EMTs. We don't have enough dentists to serve our population, we don't have enough physical therapists, we have a big deficit in terms of nurses,” Nathan said. “It's larger than just doctors; patients everywhere are suffering.”
In addition to funding cuts, the Trump administration plans to restructure federal health agencies overseeing food and drug safety, infectious-disease threat management and biomedical research, according to a preliminary budget document obtained by The Washington Post.
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“By taking these steps now, UNM Hospital is positioning itself to balance its current and future budgets,” Ramirez wrote.
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
