I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
A rare veto override move came to a dead end Wednesday afternoon when the House Judiciary committee voted 7-4 to table a bill that would have forced state agencies to share financial data, including Medicaid spending, with the Legislative Finance Committee. HB 531 passed the both chambers unanimously in 2009 but this year there was not enough political will to override Gov. Richardson’s veto.
The federal Medicaid Integrity Group said recently that it plans to investigate allegations reported in The Independent that the HSD stonewalled Medicaid Fraud Division investigators during 2008 and 2009.
According to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud & Elder Abuse Division, better compliance with Medicaid rules and regulations could have saved taxpayers up to $31 million.
“Why was it such a good idea last year, but not this year?” asked Rep. Paul Bandy, R-Aztec.
Newly confirmed Secretary of the Human Services Department Katie Falls told the committee “I don’t believe it (the bill) is necessary. It started out with our department, with different leadership, with a different perspective.”
Falls told the committee that the issues SB 531 was designed to address no longer exist, and that her department is already working to give the Legislature that information.
“I think the will of this bill has been fulfilled,” said Rep. Antonio “Mo” Maestas, D-Albuquerque.
Republicans on the committee disagreed, saying the bill doesn’t just apply to HSD, and even though the Secretary may cooperate with information now, there is no guarantee that will always be the case.
“I think this needs to move forward because we just cant rely on the good will of individuals,” Rep. Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell.
Republicans have leveled charges that House leadership was throwing obstacles at the bill to keep the Governor from the embarrassment of an override. Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, tried to address that point saying the House has overridden the Governor before and that Wednesday’s vote “wasn’t political.”
