New Mexico using abortion to try to entice medical workers from Texas

(The Center Square) - New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham wants to lure Texas medical professionals to New Mexico launching a $400,000 "Free to Provide" campaign, according to NMHealth.

The initiative includes deploying full-page newspaper ads in five major newspapers, plus billboards to tout New Mexico's support for legal abortion.

The state placed six billboards featuring the slogan "Freedom to Provide" around Houston Medical Center, hoping to encourage medical professionals to relocate to New Mexico. On Sunday this week, the state also took out full-page ads making this pitch in the Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman, and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the release said.

The ads featured an open letter from Lujan Grisham to Texas medical professionals.

In it, Lujan Grisham focused on how Texas prohibits abortion for elective reasons, whereas New Mexico allows for legal abortion for any reason through all nine months of a pregnancy.

"It must be distressing that a draconian abortion ban has restricted your right to practice and turned it into a political weapon," Lujan Grisham wrote in the ad. "When you pledged to dedicate your lives to medicine, you did so with the understanding that the health and well-being of your patients would always be your priority. You took your oath with patients––not politicians––in mind."

"I certainly respect those of you who remain committed to caring for patients in Texas, but I also invite those of you who can no longer tolerate these restrictions to consider practicing next door in New Mexico," she added. "We’re fiercely committed to protecting medical freedoms here and we’re taking steps to ensure that what happened in Texas never happens in New Mexico."

Lujan Grisham then reiterated that she doesn't see a governmental role in regulating abortion.

"New Mexico is a terrific place to live and work, boasting stunning natural beauty, a temperate climate, and a collegial and highly professional medical community," she wrote. "We’ve always taken pride in protecting what makes us unique, and that includes protecting women’s health and abortion access. You have my word: I will never interfere with the fundamental right of health workers to care for their patients in New Mexico."

"Whether you are a nurse, a resident, a physician assistant, or a doctor, we cordially and enthusiastically invite you to the Land of Enchantment, where you are free to care for your patients," she added.

The state said it hopes the initiative will help the state keep and retain quality healthcare workers.

"This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve healthcare for New Mexico's residents by ensuring that the state attracts and retains top medical talent," the release said. "With competitive incentives and a welcoming professional environment, New Mexico is poised to become a leading destination for healthcare professionals seeking a rewarding and supportive place to practice."

More information on the "Free to Provide" campaign is available here.