The shortage of dental professionals has significantly affected New Mexico, especially in rural communities, according to a Feb. 11 report from Albuquerque Journal.
About one-third of dentists in New Mexico accept Medicaid, according to the New Mexico Dental Therapist Coalition. As of August 2024, there were nearly 800,000 residents in the state who were enrolled in Medicaid, according to KFF.
The ratios of dentists who accept Medicaid and patients on Medicaid can make it difficult for individuals to receive care.
New Mexico has continued efforts to keep dental professionals in the state, including tax incentives for dentists and dental hygienists who practice in rural areas.
Two bills pending in the state House would further address those concerns. House Bill 15 would allocate funding for recruitment programs to address healthcare shortages, and House Bill 226 would increase the rural tax credit for dentists and hygienists, the report said.