HEALTH CARE BARRIERS & GAPS

SM029

SENATE MEMORIAL 29

57
th legislature
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
second session
, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Shannon D. Pinto and Linda M. López

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
TO COORDINATE WITH HEALTH CARE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNICATION BARRIERS AND GAPS IN THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT PREVENT THE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF
PATIENTS AND TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS
AND FILL THOSE GAPS.

WHEREAS, language access in health care is vital for
patient safety and equitable care; and

WHEREAS, effective communication between health care
providers and patients can reduce medical errors by up to fifty
percent; and

WHEREAS, limited language access in health care leads to
major health care disparities; and

WHEREAS, there is a particular need for language access in
New Mexico's health care system because of the melting pot of
cultures and languages in the state; and

WHEREAS, many of the hospitals in the state lack
sufficient language access services; and

WHEREAS, the need for more medical interpreters in New
Mexico is urgent; and

WHEREAS, to grow the medical interpreter workforce, the
state's infrastructure for training medical interpreters needs
to expand; and

WHEREAS, to adequately grow the state's capacity of
medical interpreter training programs, it is necessary to fully
understand the barriers and gaps in the health care system that
are preventing effective communication with patients;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE
OF NEW MEXICO that the university of New Mexico health sciences
center be requested to coordinate with health facilities across
the state to better understand the communication barriers and
gaps in the health care system that prevent the effective
treatment of patients and to develop strategies to overcome
those barriers and fill those gaps; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university of New Mexico
health sciences center be encouraged to obtain and share data
related to the barriers and gaps in the health care system for
patients to assist persons who are developing or expanding a
medical interpreter training program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
transmitted to the university of New Mexico health sciences
center.

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