The New Mexico Attorney General this week cleared 10 behavioral health providers following an investigation of charges filed in 2013 accusing them of Medicaid fraud. Attorney General Hector Balderas—in releasing his findings on the years-long investigation into the state’s behavioral health community did find some regulatory violations by those providers. Those are being forwarded to the Human Services Department for possible action. Balderas' office is continuing to review two remaining providers…His office previously finding no fraud but overpayment issues with three others.
The 2013 audit that started all the uproar raised allegations of fraud and abuse saying some 36 million dollars’ in state Medicaid funding was mishandled by the providers. That prompted Republican Governor Susana Martinez's administration to end Medicaid payments to the providers while the attorney general's office launched a probe.
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A proposed constitutional amendment to reform New Mexico's bail bond system is progressing in the House. The House Judiciary Committee on Monday approved the proposal from Sen. Peter Wirth, a Santa Fe Democrat, whose changes to the state constitution would allow judges to deny bail to defendants deemed a flight risk or danger to the community. Wirth's proposal also would allow cash-strapped defendants facing non-violent, low-level charges to be released from jail as they await trial. A competing proposal sponsored by Representative David Adkins, an Albuquerque Republican, would only change the state constitution to allow judges to deny bail to dangerous defendants. Wirth's measure has won approval in the Senate. If approved by the full House, it would go before voters in November.
The head of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture is warning lawmakers that it could take months to tally the true costs of a winter storm that killed an untold number of livestock and derailed the dairy industry. Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte testified Monday before the House agriculture committee. He said producers have been working with the Farm Service Agency to tally losses as the state builds its case for a federal disaster declaration. Republican Governor Susana Martinez and members of the state's congressional delegation already have pushed federal officials for a declaration. In late December, New Mexico was hit with more than two feet of snow and strong winds helped to form drifts that overtook corrals, buried livestock and stalled milk production. Freezing temperature then set in as part of the one-two punch.
A bill that calls for New Mexico third graders who don't show proficiency in reading to be held back has stalled in a Democratic-controlled Senate committee. The Senate Education Committee voted Monday to table a proposal that would have had students not reading at grade level repeat the third grade and be given intensive remediation. The move likely kills the bill this session. Representative Monica Youngblood, an Albuquerque Republican, reintroduced the bill that has the support of Governor Martinez and passed the GOP-controlled House last session but failed after the Democratic-led Senate failed to take it up. But it faced strong opposition from teachers unions and Democrats who have stopped similar legislation in the past. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez has said student retention should be based on teachers' assessments, not test scores.
Santa Fe Weather: Sunny skies today with the high, 54. Tonight: Clear skies with the low dropping to 27. Tomorrow: Sunny with the high 56.