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>> WILL YOU BE VOTING FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION? OR PERHAPS YOUR POLITICAL
VIEWS HAVE CHANGED SINCE YOU WERE A FIRST-TIME VOTER.
YOU CAN VOICE YOUR OPINION ON OUR WEBSITE,
NewMexicoInFocus.org. OR CONNECT WITH US THROUGH
SOCIAL MEDIA. WE'RE CERTAINLY ON FACEBOOK
AND TWITTER. NOW, WELCOME TO THE LINE.
NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERAL, HECTOR BALDERAS, ENDED AN
ALMOST THREE YEAR INVESTIGATION WHEN HIS
OFFICE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT THE LAST TWO OF 15
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS HAD BEEN CLEARED OF MEDICAID
FRAUD. FUNDS WERE SUSPENDED TO 15
PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN 2013 OVER SUCH
ALLEGATIONS, AND DURING THAT TIME MANY WENT OUT OF
BUSINESS. THE STATE'S HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT BROUGHT IN FIVE COMPANIES FROM ARIZONA TO
TAKE OVER AS REPLACEMENTS, BUT THREE OF THOSE COMPANIES
HAVE EITHER LEFT OR PLAN TO LEAVE NEW MEXICO, AND THE
FIRST RECENT ONE, AGAVE HEALTH, INC. IS PLANNING TO
PULL UP STAKES HERE IN JUNE, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND OTHER NEWS AROUND THE STATE, I'M
JOINED AT THE TABLE TODAY BY TOM GARRITY FROM THE GARRITY
GROUP P.R. A NEW REGULAR ON OUR LINE
PANEL, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JANICE ARNOLD
JONES IS HERE. YAY, JANICE!
MARSHA GARCIA WITH STRATEGIES 360 IS BACK.
AND RUSSELL CONTRERAS, OUR OLD FRIEND AND REPORTER WITH
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. WELCOME ALL.
TOM, THE AG'S OFFICE FOUND SOME REGULATORY VIOLATIONS
AND ABOUT, OH, CHUMP CHANGE IN MISFILED THINGS COMPARED
TO THE MANY MILLIONS WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE HAPPENED
HERE. WE'VE GOT A CLOSE ON THIS
STORY OF ONE SENSE, BUT WE'RE OPENING UP ANOTHER
PHASE OF THIS, AREN'T WE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO KIND
OF PIN IT DOWN AT THIS POINT.
>> YES, AND IT'S JUST A TRAVESTY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS WHO
WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AS A RESULT OF THIS LITERALLY
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, BECAUSE IT CLEARLY WASN'T A
CRIMINAL ACTION, AS WAS STATED BY THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL. YOU KNOW, HERE'S WHAT'S
REALLY FASCINATING TO ME ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING, IS
THAT IT ALL STARTED WITH AN AUDIT BY A PUBLIC CONSULTING
GROUP, AND IN THEIR INITIAL FINDING WAS SOME WORDING
THAT SAID, THERE'S NO CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OF FRAUD.
$36 MILLION LATER, ADDING ON ANOTHER $1.1 MILLION FOR THE
AUDITING, EVERYTHING BACKS UP THAT ORIGINAL CLAIM.
AND SO ALL THIS IS FOR NAUGHT.
WE HAVE 15 BUSINESSES WHICH ARE -- MOST ARE ALREADY OUT
OF BUSINESS, AND WE HAVE OTHER BUSINESSES FROM OUT OF
STATE WHO HAVE COME IN AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE
WASHING OUR HANDS, HAVE FUN NEW MEXICO, WE'RE GOING TO
BACK TO ARIZONA. SO I THINK THE BIG CHALLENGE
NOW, AS FAR AS THIS WHOLE STORY HAS BEEN THROUGH A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT LIFE CYCLES, IS WHAT HAPPENS
NEXT? HOW DO YOU REACH OUT TO THE
MOST VULNERABLE NEW MEXICANS AND HELP THEM TO GET HELP.
AND IT'S NOT JUST LIKE GOING TO A GAS STATION, YOU HAVE
TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND YOU HAVE TO BUILD TRUST, AND
RIGHT NOW THE TRUST WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WITH THE
VOTERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE TRUST WITH THOSE
PATIENTS, THOSE CUSTOMERS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES,
IS BROKEN, AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. JANICE, INTERESTINGLY, I
MENTIONED AGAVE HEALTH, INC. IS LEAVING NORTHERN NEW
MEXICO AND SANTA FE FOLKS. 3000 PEOPLE EFFECTED.
HOW MUCH DOES ONE MAKE UP THAT KIND OF SERVICE, AS TOM
IS MENTIONING? 3000 IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF PEOPLE. >> THIS IS THE BACK SIDE OF
THE TRAVESTY. WE DON'T, AS NEAR AS I CAN
SEE, WE DO NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE, WE DO NOT HAVE THE
EMPLOYEES TO ACTUALLY CLOSE THE GAP RIGHT NOW, AND I
BELIEVE IN THIS ACTION OVER 1200 PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS.
AND WHEN I SAY THEY LOST THEIR JOBS, THESE WERE THE
PEOPLE PROVIDING THE SERVICES.
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO REPLACE THEM?
AND SO IT BECOMES EVEN MORE COMPLICATED.
WHAT A COMPLICATED STORY. BUT IT DID BEGIN WITH AN
AUDIT, AND LET ME REMIND YOU THAT IT WAS A NO BID
CONTRACT. AND JUST A CURSORY LOOK, I
DON'T EVEN BELIEVE THAT THIS COMPANY WAS AN APPROVED
AUDIT SERVICES COMPANY BY OUR STANDARDS.
SO HOW DID THIS ONE MISTAKE SNOWBALL INTO THIS DISASTER?
AND LOOKING AT IT FROM JUST A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE,
OKAY, SOMETIMES BILLING GETS MIXED UP.
THERE ARE 15 COMPANIES. IF THE AG IS RIGHT, THAT'S
ABOUT $78,000 A PIECE. SO WHY DIDN'T HUMAN SERVICES
SAY, WE'RE WITHHOLDING FUNDS UNTIL WE RESOLVE THIS.
IF IT HAD BEEN THE 36, THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
$2 MILLION A COMPANY. SAME STRATEGY, WHY WOULD YOU
PUT PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS EVEN INADVERTENTLY?
>> YEAH, THAT'S INTERESTING. THE REPORT THAT TOM AND
JANICE MENTIONED, THE PCS REPORT, THAT COMPANY OUT OF
BOSTON, INTERESTINGLY THEY DID NOT OR WERE NOT ALLOWED,
OR WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE HOW THIS HAPPENED, THEIR OWN
PROTOCOL. MEANING THEY COME UP WITH
THIS AUDIT, AND THEIR USUAL WAY OF DOING IT IS TO SHOW
THEIR FINDINGS TO THE GROUPS THAT ARE EFFECTED, THEY GET
A CHANCE TO RESPOND, THEY GET A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN
THEMSELVES, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS TIME.
THAT SEEMS VERY PROBLEMATIC FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THAT? >> WHEN I READ THE STORY,
WHEN WE GOT THE STORY AT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, WE CAME
OUT AND WE CONTACTED SOME OF THESE FACILITIES, AND THEY
DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS HAD GONE DOWN, THEY WANTED A
CHANCE TO RESPOND. THEY WERE LIKE, WELL, I
DON'T THINK THIS IS ACCURATE, BECAUSE I WOULD
HAVE BEEN TOLD. SO THE STORY CAME OUT AND IT
STARTED SNOWBALLING. AND THEN WE WERE UNCLEAR IF
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE UPSET ABOUT IT WERE UPSET BECAUSE
THESE WERE BUSINESSES IN THEIR CONSTITUENCIES.
AND SO YOU WERE LIKE, OKAY, WELL, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE,
IS THIS JUST A POLITICAL FOOTBALL.
AND THEN AS IT STARTS TO SNOWBALL AND GET WORSE, YOU
START TO SEE THE PEOPLE EFFECTED.
THIS IS A STATE THAT JUST GOT A KENDRA'S LAW PASSED.
THIS IS A STATE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH BEDS FOR THE
MENTALLY ILL OR THOSE FIGHTING ADDICTION.
SO TO PUT US IN THIS POSITION I THINK HURTS US IN
THE LONG RUN BECAUSE OF THE WAY THIS WAS HANDLED, AND
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSED ESPECIALLY IN A
CITY LIKE US WHERE WE'VE HAD SHOOTINGS WITH FOLKS OR
SUSPECTS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.
THIS IS GOING TO TRANSCEND THIS YEAR.
IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE. I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT
MAYBE A THREE OR FOUR YEAR PROCESS TO GET BACK TO WHERE
WE WERE. >> IN THAT PROCESS, MARSHA,
LAWSUITS. WE HAD A LITTLE TIDBIT THIS
WEEK THAT CAME DOWN. WE HEARD ABOUT THIS INFAMOUS
PLANE FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION, THAT
SOMEBODY AROUND THE STATE HAS BEEN FLYING AROUND IN
THE PLANE ON MEDICAID DOLLARS, AND NOW WE'VE GOT
THE EARLY RUMBLINGS OF A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT FROM THIS
COMPANY. I HAVE TO THINK THIS IS
GOING TO END UP COSTING THE STATE AND A LOT OF US WHO
LIVE HERE IN THE STATE QUITE A FEW DOLLARS BEFORE IT GETS
STRAIGHTENED OUT. WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF IT?
IS THAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN HERE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THE THING THAT GOT
TO ME THE MOST WAS THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN OTHER
STEPS TAKEN FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
THEY COULD HAVE ADDED MONITORS TO THESE COMPANIES
IF THERE WAS EVEN ANY TYPE OF INKLING OF ALLEGED FRAUD.
BUT THEY CHOSE TO FREEZE FUNDS.
THAT WAS NOT A MANDATE THAT THEY HAD TO DO, THEY CHOSE
TO DO THAT. AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE
OFTEN -- I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK PAST THE DOLLARS THAT
IT MAY COST TAXPAYERS. WHAT ABOUT THE LIVES THAT
ARE GOING TO BE EFFECTED? WHAT DOLLAR AMOUNT DO WE PUT
ON CHILDREN THAT DESPERATELY NEED THIS CARE, THAT NEED
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THEIR
FAMILY CAN PROVIDE FOR THEM? WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE KIDS?
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ELDERLY? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE REST OF
THE ADULTS, AS WELL? SO IT MAY TAKE US YEARS TO
GET BACK TO WHERE WE'RE FUNCTIONING AT A PLACE WHERE
WE WERE BEFORE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SOME OF THESE
FAMILIES, THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO RECOVER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. JANICE, REAL QUICK BEFORE WE
GET OUT OF HERE ON THIS ONE, MARSHA JUST REMINDED ME OF
ANOTHER WRINKLE THIS WEEK, THE IDEA THAT THERE'S BEEN A
CALL FOR PED TO HAVE A FEDERAL MONITOR COME IN AND
HELP GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION TO THAT WHEN YOU
HEARD THAT? >> I APPRECIATE THE
SENTIMENT, BUT LET'S LOOK AT SEVERAL MONITORS THAT HAVE
BEEN IN OUR STATE AND HOW MUCH WE HAVE PAID FOR THEM.
I THINK WE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO FIND OTHER SOLUTIONS.
BUT CLEARLY THINGS NEED TO CHANGE, AND THE FIRST PLACE
TO START IS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST
OUR SERVICES. >> RUSSELL, FINISH UP ON
THAT ONE, IF YOU WOULD. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
FEDERAL -- SOMEBODY JUST OVERLOOKING.
NOT TO TAKE OVER, BUT JUST TO SAY, LOOK, LET'S GET THIS
STRAIGHTED OUT, LET'S FIGURE THIS OUT.
>> WITH ANOTHER AGENCY, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS LOOK
FOR A TEACHER TO COME IN AND SAY, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU PUT
IN A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK -- IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER THAN SOMEBODY
COMING IN FROM AN OUTSIDE FORCE.
>> INTERESTING. WHEN WE COME BACK, THE LINE
WILL LOOK AT A POSSIBLE COURT ORDER TO STOP
NEW MEXICO OFFICIALS FROM WITHHOLDING REFUNDS OF
EXCESS TAX PAYMENTS FROM IMMIGRANTS.