Although the state legislature is generally fairly telemedicine-friendly in New Mexico, a lack of Internet access in the state is hindering its widespread adoption.
The largely rural state, patched with large stretches of Native American reservations that have limited infrastructure for Internet connectivity, has enacted statutes that encourage the use of video cameras and other technology to diagnose or treat patients remotely, and its Medicaid expansion provides more people access to services. State officials are trying to determine the best method to bring Internet to these rural locations, according to Albuquerque Business First.
Recent efforts include United Healthcare's teledermatology service offering and telemedicine services at the Lovelace Health Center in Roswell, N.M. However, 10 percent of the state's households do not have access to adequate broadband service. In rural counties such as Rio Arriba County, located in the northwestern corner of the state, approximately 70 percent of the population does not have access to broadband services, according to the report.
Even to set up the telemedicine service in Roswell, the state had to address issues of connectivity and security. The state plans to prioritize broader access to broadband services over the next few years as telemedicine use spreads, according to the report.