Bill to create health fraud guidelines
A bill that would create new guidelines for investigating fraud guidelines within New Mexico’s behavioral health system is one step closer to Gov. Susana Martinez’s desk.
The legislation, prompted by a 2013 shakeup in the state system for treating the mentally ill and those with addiction issues, passed the House Health and Human Services Committee on Sunday via a unanimous 7-0 vote.
Behavioral health nonprofits that had their Medicaid frozen in 2013 due to claims of improper billing and fraud have long complained they were not given a chance to defend themselves.
Several lawmakers appeared to support that view Sunday, with Rep. James Towsnend, R-Artesia, saying, “We all are due due process.”
The measure, Senate Bill 217, is sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, and passed the Senate last month on a 31-9 vote. It must still clear one more House committee before hitting the House floor.
INMATE PREGNANCIES: New Mexico judges would be able to release female inmates from custody for a furlough of up to 18 months following the birth of a child, under a bill passed Sunday by a House committee.
The measure, Senate Bill 277, also calls for judges to have to consider whether an inmate was pregnant or breastfeeding when determining possible bond and prison credit.
If approved, the legislation could increase the costs for the New Mexico Corrections Department and could open up the agency to liability concerns, according to a legislative analysis of the bill.
But backers of the legislation say it could lead to healthier children and mothers. There are projected to be 810 women in New Mexico prisons in the coming fiscal year, and studies have shown between 3 to 5 percent of women are pregnant when incarcerated.
The bill passed the House Health and Human Services Committee without dissent Sunday and now moves on to the House Judiciary Committee.
BILL COUNTDOWN: With the 60-day session ending on Saturday, bills are starting to fly around the Roundhouse.
As of Sunday, a total of 47 bills — 19 House bills and 28 Senate bills — had passed both legislative chambers.
Gov. Susana Martinez had signed seven of those bills and vetoed five bills. The rest of them had not yet arrived on her desk as of Sunday or were still awaiting final action.
Hundreds of measures are still in limbo as lawmakers enter the session’s final week, including bills dealing with ethics, minimum wage and taxes.
The governor will have until April 7 to act on any bills approved during the session’s three final days.