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Washington, E01 211515

May 24, 2017

The Honorable Daniel R. Levinson

US. Department of Health Human Services
Of?ce of Inspector General

330 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20201

Dear Mr. Levinson:

In June of 2013, the New Mexico Human Services Department suspended Medicaid payments to 15
nonpro?t behavioral health providers due to what it deemed ?credible allegations of fraud? that were later
shown to be untrue and entirely unfounded. This led to the closure and partial replacement of accused
providers, all of whom were later cleared of wrongdoing by New Mexico?s Attorney General.

This move decimated the behavioral health system in a state where there are already signi?cant provider
shortages, and almost four years later, signi?cant access issues remain. Four of the ?ve companies brought
in from Arizona to provide services have since left New Mexico, causing ?irther disruptions in continuity
of care to an already vulnerable population. Our of?ces continue to hear heartbreaking stories of treatment
delayed or disrupted, and in the worst cases, lives lost due to lack of access to behavioral health services.

As a result, we request that your of?ce investigate the extent to which Medicaid managed care plans in
New Mexico include behavioral health providers and the extent to which behavioral health providers are
available to meet the needs of the Medicaid population. Speci?cally, we request that your of?ce evaluate
the extent to which behavioral health providers are included in the State?s managed care plans and the types
of care offered by these providers. Additionally, we are interested in the extent to which behavioral health
providers have the capacity to accept new patients, the extent to which behavioral health providers have
wait lists, and the extent to which behavioral health providers have dif?culty making referrals to other
behavioral health providers for needed care. Finally, we request that your report address ways
to improve the continuity of care for Medicaid enrollees in New Mexico.

We appreciate your attention to this request and look forward to your reply.

 

 

 

 

Sincerely,
6m. 09m
Tom Udall Martin Heinrich
United States Senator United States Senator
He?n Ray Lujall? I Michelle Lujan Grisham

Member of Congress Member of Congress

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