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Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov.'s administration tabs veteran health care official to lead implementation of new law
Apr. 29—SANTA FE — With New Mexico set to launch a new regionalized approach to providing mental health and substance abuse services in June, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration is taking steps to prepare. The state Health Care Authority on Tuesday announced the hiring of Kristie Brooks to guide the implementation of the new law, which was passed by lawmakers during this year's 60-day legislative session and signed by Lujan Grisham. Brooks, a former regional director of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will fill a new job post created to oversee implementation efforts, an HCA spokeswoman said. As the agency's director of behavioral health transformation and innovation, Brooks, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma, will receive a $150,000 annual salary. She said Tuesday she was looking forward to starting the new job at a pivotal time. "New Mexico is leading the way in rebuilding behavioral health services, and I'm excited to partner with communities across the state to strengthen systems of care, elevate culturally responsive treatment models, and improve health outcomes," Brooks said in a statement. Under the legislative plan, Senate Bill 3, the state judiciary will take on a larger role in approving regional behavioral health plans, while the Health Care Authority will remain in charge of overseeing funding. Health Care Authority officials have been in contact with top executives at the Administrative Office of the Courts to ensure the new law's requirements are met, HCA spokeswoman Marina Piña said Tuesday. Overhauling New Mexico's system for providing mental health and substance abuse treatment was a major focus during this year's session, amid concerns about the difficulty in finding providers and the current system's ineffectiveness. In addition to the new regional approach that allows local officials to craft plans identifying funding priorities, lawmakers also approved the creation of a new behavioral health trust fund. A $100 million start-up appropriation for the new fund was included in a separate budget bill. The changes come more than a decade after former Gov. Susana Martinez upended New Mexico's behavioral system in 2013, freezing Medicaid funding to 15 providers over fraud and overbilling. All the accused providers were later cleared of wrongdoing. Under the new law, initial standards and evaluation guidelines for behavioral health services must be established by June 1. Monthly updates on the status of the regional behavioral health plans must also be provided, starting next month.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
State seeks diverse members for new Medicaid Council
(Getty Images) New Mexico's Health Care Authority on Friday put out a call for members for a new 15-member Beneficiary Advisory Council for New Mexico Medicaid, launching July 1. Applicants should be current or former Medicaid recipients, or parents, guardians or caregivers for Medicaid participants. An HCA news release said the Council should 'reflect the diverse Medicaid population' in New Mexico and specifically encouraged applications from: People of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds Non-native English speakers LGBTQ+ individuals Parents of young children Young adults People with disabilities Individuals with behavioral health conditions Urban, rural, and frontier residents Members from Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations Dual-eligible members (enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare) 'Medicaid serves more than 800,00 New Mexicans with critical health care services, and no one understands its strengths and challenges better than the people who rely on it every day,' New Mexico Medicaid Director Dana Flannery said in a statement. 'This council will help ensure that the program reflects the real experiences and needs of New Mexicans.' Council members, who will attend quarterly meetings either in person at the HCA office in Santa Fe or online from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. will provide feedback on topics such as: medicaid programs, policies, and services barriers to care and suggest practical improvements initiatives to increase access, quality, and equity They will also serve as liaisons between Medicaid members and leadership, according to the news release. Applicants who are chosen will be notified by June 30. Learn more and apply here.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Mexico toughens requirements to become a caregiver
Rep. Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson (D-Albuquerque) is co-sponsoring a bill to tighten background checks for caregivers in New Mexico. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source NM) People interested in becoming a caregiver for older adults or people with disabilities in New Mexico will face more strict requirements under a new state law but now have a way of appealing if they get rejected. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 7 signed House Bill 131, which enhances background check requirements for caregivers, expanding the list of disqualifying criminal offenses. At the same time, HB 131 creates an easier pathway for those who qualify for the job, which sponsors hope will help expand the workforce. Starting July 1, anyone convicted of battery of a household member, animal cruelty, identity theft, human trafficking or assault of a peace officer can be found to pose an 'unreasonable risk' as a caregiver. The new law also allows the Health Care Authority to write rules to add more crimes to the list. The law already prohibited someone from becoming a caregiver if they had been convicted of homicide; drug trafficking; kidnapping; rape or other sexual offenses; abuse of adults or children; robbery; larceny; burglary; fraud; financial exploitation or embezzlement. 'This law reflects our commitment to protecting the safety and dignity of the New Mexicans who rely on caregiving services,' New Mexico Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo said in a statement. 'By strengthening background checks, we are creating safer environments for vulnerable individuals and providing families with greater peace of mind.' Two of the bill's co-sponsors in the Legislature told Source NM it is intended to decrease how long it takes to appeal a background check finding, and make the appeals process more effective, after providers gave feedback about it taking too long, which led to applicants giving up and working elsewhere like in the service industry. Co-sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Thomson (D-Albuquerque), chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, told Source NM that the bill will help people with disabilities because more people will be able to apply for jobs to care for them. She said there is very high staff turnover at groups homes, nursing homes and other care facilities, and it's difficult to find replacements because caregiving is a demanding job that pays very little. 'These jobs have a lot of responsibility, I mean, this is someone's mother, or grandmother or son that you're taking care of,' Thomson said. 'It can be a very stressful, very physically challenging job, and sometimes downright scary.' For example, Thomson said she sees new staff working at the group home that houses her own son who is very tall, strong and has severe autism that can result in him engaging in difficult behaviors like smearing his own feces on the walls, ceilings and his own clothing. Co-sponsor Rep. Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho) told Source NM the bill fits into the legislative session's broader focus on public safety by protecting the most vulnerable people, including those with disabilities. Cates said the Health Care Authority's Division of Health Improvement asked her to carry the bill. The division runs the state's caregiver background check registry. 'These direct care providers are extraordinarily important in our community, especially now as our community is aging at a higher ratio, and we do not pay them a professional wage,' Cates said. HB131 does not impact caregivers' pay, but Cates and Thomson say they want to pursue future pieces of legislation to raise their compensation. In 2023, they co-sponsored a law that requires the state to conduct a cost study every two years for caregivers for people with developmental disabilities. But as soon as the study's findings are implemented, the pay rates are already two years behind inflation, Thomson said. 'Even before I started as a representative, I was an advocate for people with disabilities and even back then in the 1990s, we were saying, 'You're not paying these people enough,'' Thomson said. 'I don't know what the magic number is; I haven't found it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Egypt Today
27-03-2025
- Health
- Egypt Today
Health Care Authority, Portuguese amb. discuss ways to enhance cooperation, exchange expertise
Health Care Authority, Portuguese amb. discuss ways to enhance cooperation, exchange expertise CAIRO - 27 March 2025: Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky, Chairman of the General Authority for Healthcare and General Supervisor of the Comprehensive Health Insurance Project, met with Ambassador Rui Terino, Ambassador of Portugal to Egypt, and Vasco Costa, to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation in the fields of advanced healthcare, medical technology, modern innovations, medical tourism, and green transformation. This meeting coincides with the 50th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Portugal. Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky began the meeting by welcoming the Portuguese ambassador, praising the historical relations between the two countries, which have witnessed remarkable development in various fields, especially in the healthcare sector. Dr. El-Sobky emphasized that this meeting reflects the strategic cooperation between Egypt and the European Union and enhances the exchange of expertise in healthcare and medical innovation. Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky indicated that the Authority seeks to exchange expertise with Portugal regarding its national healthcare system and its decentralized approach based on integrated healthcare entities. He also noted that the Authority seeks to benefit from Portugal's experience in expanding the scope of healthcare services, advanced healthcare planning, and the application of telemedicine technologies, which will contribute to enhancing access to healthcare services in remote areas. He also revealed that a twinning program is under discussion between the General Authority for Healthcare and Portuguese hospitals. This program includes the exchange of expertise, training of medical personnel, and the promotion of modern medical technologies. This includes cooperation with the Cove Tigo Group, the largest private hospital group in Lisbon, to enhance the quality of healthcare services and provide a better patient experience. Dr. Ahmed El-Sobky added, "We aim to benefit from the successful public-private partnership model in Portugal. We are working to strengthen cooperation with Cascais Hospital as a global model for successful partnerships, in addition to encouraging Portuguese companies to invest in Egypt's healthcare sector." He highlighted the promising investment opportunities in the Egyptian healthcare sector, given the significant developments it is witnessing.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Stricter background checks for caregivers finds major support at the Roundhouse
A senior woman being assisted to walk using a walker by caregiver at park. (Stock photo by Thianchai Sitthikongsak via Getty Images) New Mexico is facing an increase in severe cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation of disabled and older residents, according to Dan Lanari, director of the Health Care Authority's Division of Health Improvement. Lanari told members of the House Health and Human Services Committee this month that between Fiscal Year 2020 and 2024, a 117% increase occurred in such cases for people receiving Developmental Disabilities Waiver services, while there was a 76% increase in cases at health care facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 'Examples of these are medical neglect resulting in death, medical neglect resulting in a broken jaw of individuals, exploitation exceeding $10,000 of individuals,' he said. Lanari joined Rep. Elizabeth Thomson (D-Albuquerque), who chairs the Health and Human Services Committee, to present House Bill 131 to committee members Feb. 7. The bill proposes stricter background checks for caregivers, which he said is the 'safeguard' in place to protect people from bad actors. However, New Mexico law only included about 10% of disqualifying convictions as other states, Lanari said. 'We see that as a need to close the gap to ensure the safety of individuals receiving health care in our state,' Lanari said during the meeting. HB 131 proposes adding several felony convictions to a list of charges that disqualify a person from being accepted as a caregiver, including felony crimes of sex trafficking, assault of a peace officer, identity theft and cruelty to animals. The bill would move oversight from the Department of Health to the Health Care Authority, and would also allow the HCA to add to the list of disqualifying convictions. 'It is a fine line. We want to catch all the bad folks, but we don't want to make so many people ineligible. We already can't fill the positions,' Thomson said during the meeting. 'I just want reassurance that the people who are taking care of my autistic son and his housemates will provide the love and support and caregiving that I would [give] my own son,' Jodi McGinnis Porter, deputy communications director for Gov. Michelle Lujan's office, told lawmakers during the committee meeting. 'If they have a criminal background, they shouldn't be in this business.' In 2023, the health department terminated multiple contracts with providers caring for people through the state's Developmental Disabilities Waiver, after a case involving abuse and neglect of a client. That case prompted state wellness checks throughout the system, as well as criminal charges. Thomson told Source NM she hopes this bill will set a stronger foundation for building the caregiving workforce in the state. She added that another major component of attracting qualified people to be caregivers is increasing pay. Rep. Elizabeth 'Liz' Thomson (D-Albuquerque) is co-sponsoring a bill to tighten background checks for caregivers in New Mexico. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source NM) Thomson explained that her son has significant autism and lives in a DD Waiver group home. 'He's most of the time a delight, but when he's not, he's really scary. And when you can go to McDonald's and make $5-an-hour more and not have to deal with that level of fear, which I totally understand, we've got to figure out some way to pay folks more so that we can get qualified people,' Thomson told Source NM. Representatives from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Community Providers, Disability Rights New Mexico and several other organizations spoke in favor of the bill, though voiced concerns about allowing HCA to later add more rules disqualifying caregiver applicants. Committee members joined in the skepticism, asking Thomson to make amendments to some of the wording in the bill. 'If you've had the most vulnerable of the population, which is somebody you love, been abused, it changes your scope and I've been there with my grandparents,' Rep. Elaine Sena Cortez (R-Hobbs) said during the meeting. HB 131 passed the House Health and Human Services Committee but without recommendation. It heads to the House Judiciary Committee next. This article was written with the support of a journalism fellowship from The Gerontological Society of America, The Journalists Network on Generations and The NIHCM Foundation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
