Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 123, No. 22 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
January 25, 2014
Audit: NM provider overbilled government
SANTA FE (AP) — An audit commissioned by the state estimated the government overpaid a mental health provider $655,800 because of improper billings, but the organization’s top executive said Friday the auditors were wrong. The Counseling Center was among 15 nonprofit providers of mental health services that had their Medicaid payments suspended last summer because of the audit that alleged fraud, mismanage-
ment and billing problems over more than three years. The Alamogordo-based provider has been cleared of fraud by investigators for Attor ney General Gary King, but they identified overbillings in a sample of claims. It’s the responsibility of the Human Services Department to recover overpayments for mental health services provided to New Mexicans through Medicaid and other programs. The attorney general continues to investigate allega-
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tions against other providers. Human Services Department spokesman Matt Kennicott said the agency was reviewing billings by The Counseling Center and expects to soon give the provider an amount the state will seek to recover. The amount of overbillings may not be the same as auditors projected, he said, but it will be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Jim Kerlin, the nonprofit’s CEO, disputed the
audit’s estimate of overpayments and complained of errors in the report, including that he had been paid $168,000 in 2011. His salary actually was $87,000, Kerlin said. “They are wrong in what they say we did wrong,” Kerlin said in a telephone interview. “If we had any opportunity whatsoever to have questions and answers and the ability to know what they were looking for, we could have clearly demonstrated that we were doing nothing
Mark Wilson Photo
A construction worker from Guzman Construction Solutions walks through the rubble created from the demolition of the old New Mexico Rehabilitation Center at the corner of Gail Harris and E. Wells streets, Friday.
SATURDAY
wrong.” Providers have complained they were not given an opportunity to respond to the allegations against them before the department froze payments and referred the matter to the attorney general. The department contends that federal Medicaid rules require the state to halt payments once it concludes there are credible allegations of fraud. The Counseling Center is out of business because of the dispute with the
Behavioral health services can range from counseling for mental disorders to community support services in which workers help train mentally ill patients deal with tasks in daily life such as handling money and performing household chores.
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — New Mexico lawmakers are being inundated with requests to help pay for infrastructure water improvements, leaving many frustrated as they try to sort out priorities while the state wrestles with drought. From contaminated wells to a lack of storage for drinking water, members of the Senate Finance Committee heard Thursday from state and local water officials and fellow lawmakers about the growing needs around the state. Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, a Sandia Park Republican whose district stretches from Albuquerque to some of central New Mexico’s
more rural parts, said the Legislature has been in session only a few days but most of the requests and proposals crossing her desk deal with water. “It’s certainly something that I have to pay major attention to,” she said. “I represent the Edgewood area, and rather than ask me for a ball field and things like that, they’re asking me for water projects.” Never mind party lines, it’s hard to find a lawmaker or local official who did not agree with Gov. Susana Martinez when she said in her State of the State address this week that New Mexico’s water infrastructure is “in a state of crisis.”
state. The department, after suspending payments, contracted with Arizona companies to take over providing services that had been done by the New Mexico nonprofits.
NM residents ask lawmakers for water help
Interior Secretary Denny’s raises $1,000 for shooting victims Jewell visits state
LAS CRUCES (AP) — After a hike through southern New Mexico’s rugged desert landscape, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Friday it’s clear why the state is known as the Land of Enchantment. Jewell toured Broad Canyon outside of Las Cruces before headlining a public meeting centered on federal legislation for protecting the Organ Mountains and other scenic areas in Dona Ana County. The legislation would carve out 780 square miles — about one-fifth of the county — and designate it as the Organ MountainsDesert Peaks National Monument. It would include eight new wilderness areas featuring steep rock outcroppings, petroglyphs, ancient lava flows
and sites such as Bill the Kid’s Outlaw Rock, Geromino’s Cave and the Butter field Stagecoach Trail.
Jewell said the area has a rich history as well as many opportunities for enjoying the outdoors through hiking and hunting.
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen a groundswell of support from many in the community to ensure that these landscapes are celebrated and passed on to the generations of New Mexicans to come,” Jewell said. “Those efforts also have the potential to drive significant economic benefits to the region through a boost in tourism and outdoor recreation.”
Tabitha Denny is running for City Council in Ward 5.
A benefit held Thursday by Denny’s Restaurant for the victims of last week’s Berrendo Middle School shooting raised $1,000. The check was handed to United Way of Chaves County Executive Director Sherry Mumford Friday. “These funds will go directly to the families injured,” Mumford said. “Right now, it’s a big financial hardship for them.” Denny’s is one of several local businesses that have contributed money to the victims. Applebee’s Restaurant also collected a percentage of each customer’s tab one day this week and took other donations. Monterrey Elementary
Jill McLaughlin Photo
Denny's night manager Priscilla Ramirez, third from left, presents a check for $1,000 collected from customers Thursday for Berrendo Middle School Students. United Way of Chaves County Executive Director Sherry Mumford, second from left, said the money will be divided between the two victims of last week's shooting. Also shown are: BMS Principal Susie Martin, left, and three Denny's servers.
School donated $1,200, Wells Fargo has collected $2,000 from the community and the United Way has received money from
the public through its office and online, Mumford said. Denny’s offered its customers a spaghetti dinner
hopes to bring more jobs to Roswell by encouraging small-business growth. “By bringing more economic development, that will work towards reducing crime,” Denny said. Crime, “has been ongoing ever since I can remember. It played a big part in why I didn’t come back earlier.” Several factors are discouraging small-business people from getting a chance to open, and make their dreams a reality, Denny said. “There’s not enough sup-
port, in general. Not just from the government level, but from our local banks and from citizens,” Denny said. “I want to make sure we work with small businesses and try to support them. I went through an issue with that. That’s why it’s important to me.”
with a drink, toast and ice cream, charging $9 for adults and $4 for chilSee DENNY’S, Page A3
Customer service important to Ward 5 candidate Denny JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Jill McLaughlin Photo
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Tabitha Denny speaks from the heart, she said. She’s not a politician but decided that to make a difference in the community, she needed to take a stand. “I want to be realistic. I want at least for it to be known that I tried,” Denny said. “I can’t expect that change to happen if I don’t try to make that change. I’m running because I care.” Denny filed to run for
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City Council in Ward 5 against incumbent Barry Foster. A New Mexico native of Tucumcari, Denny grew up in Roswell. She left after graduating from Goddard High School and decided to return two years ago. Denny, who lives with her husband, Shawn, a New Mexico Game and Fish game warden, owns Crossfit Vision and co-owns The Scuba Shop with her father, Gale Yocom. As a small-business owner, Denny said she
• ELIZABETH MARTINEZ
TODAY’S OBITUARY PAGE A3
Denny said she hopes to grow those businesses, as they are as vital as larger companies in drawing jobs to the area. One section of the city she would like to see improved would be Main Street and West Sec-
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B5 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B3
ond. “There are two extremes in Roswell — Main and West Second,” she said. “We bring in all our alien (UFO) tourists and that’s the first thing they see. There’s duct tape on the windows. There are several things that need to be worked on. We need to pick something. Nothing’s going to change overnight.” Another issue she would focus on, she said, would be to create more activities
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
See DENNY, Page A3 OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8