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THE NEW MEXICAN Sunday, September 15, 2013
Expand: Exchange to be ready Oct. 1 Continued from Page A-5
morE informAtion
Medicaid reimbursements do not cover hospital costs — and the payments are less than the hospital would receive from the county indigent fund, which is earmarked for those who can’t pay for treatments. Still, insured patients are more likely to come into primary care clinics and seek other types of alternative care, which holds down emergency room costs and other expensive procedures. Another advantage of signing people up is that even if they do not qualify for Centennial Care, the patient might be able to receive some advance tax credit and to buy private insurance through the exchange. Credits can be offered for individuals earning as much as $44,000 and families at $92,000, depending on the family’s size.
u To learn about upcoming educational seminars on the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange, or to learn how to enroll in Medicaid, see the online version of this story at santafenewmexican.com.
King: AG says politics not part of decisions tigation turns out to be “much sary, King said. “It’s easier for Asked when he expected ado about nothing” with no seri- investigators when people aren’t the investigation to be comwere “credible allegations of ous criminal charges, Sanderoff running for the shredders.” plete, King said he’s “gun shy” fraud.” Much of the audit’s findsaid it would be the governor’s King also agreed with the about giving an exact date. But ings have not been disclosed. administration, not the attorney administration that federal he said it might be a couple of That audit report triggered the general, who would suffer the guidelines call for suspension of months before any results are suspension of Medicaid funds for backlash. Medicaid funds once it’s been announced. those providers and the hiring Since the beginning of the con- determined that there are “credWhile it will be difficult for of behavioral health companies troversy and the investigation, ible allegations of fraud” and the King to attack Martinez over from Arizona to take over serHuman Services officials have case has been referred for crimi- the mental health shake-up, last vices for some 30,000 patients. often pointed out that King told nal investigation. week he did lay into the adminisSeveral Democratic lawmakthe department not to release the But King pointed out that tration over the state Water Qualers at a July news conference in full audit report, which lays out while his office is investigating ity Control Commission’s deciAlbuquerque expressed disapthe fraud allegations. the potential fraud, Human Sersion to approve a copper mining pointment in King for siding King acknowledged in an vices was the entity that made rule proposed by Martinez’s with the Republican administra- interview Friday that he did the determination that “credible Environment Department. That tion in saying it was necessary direct the department to withallegations of fraud” had been rule sets the criteria for discharge to suspend Medicaid payments hold certain parts of the audit. cited in the audit report. permits the copper mining to providers and to keep parts of Several of the providers under “I’d have done it differently,” he industry needs for activities that the audit secret. investigation, as well as their said, without elaborating. contaminate groundwater. State Sen. Linda Lopez, defenders in the Legislature, have But King said when he’s doing King, in a news release, said D-Albuquerque, who is compet- said this has robbed them of due his job, he isn’t thinking about the the decision “threatens the preing with King for the Democratic process and that they have not political impacts of his decisions. cious supplies of water we drink nomination in the governor’s been able to respond to specific He said if his office is “really in New Mexico.” Environment race, wasn’t at that event. But allegations against them. effective at doing our job,” even- Secretary Ryan Flynn has disshe was one of two Democratic But keeping the incriminating tually people will see “what the missed King’s opposition as “a lawmakers who appeared at an parts of the audit secret is neces- facts really are.” political move.” August rally at the state Capitol to denounce the administration Travel Bug for suspending the providers’ Medicaid funds. She didn’t menStipula SpecialS tion King in her speech. Sat September 21 5 pm Rebecca Clay Despite some criticism of Sanbusco Center • 989-4742 Conversational Language Classes www.santafepens.com King from fellow Democrats, Spanish French Italian 839 Paseo de Peralta 992-0418 one longtime observer of New Mexico politics doesn’t think the behavioral health issue will be a major factor in the election. “The jury’s still out on this,” said Albuquerque pollster Brian Sanderoff in an interview Friday. “At this point, [King] hasn’t done much to make it an issue.” BUCK-A-ROO MONDAY Sanderoff sees the issue as “a jab that an opposing candidate MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 could make at him, but I don’t $1 GENERAL ADMISSION BEFORE 1PM think we really know now until Regular Admission Prices apply after 1pm we see how [the investigation of the providers] plays out.” TWOFER TUESDAY Sanderoff said if King’s investiTUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 gation uncovers serious criminal wrongdoing, “I think voters will NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR ½ PRICE GENERAL ADMISSION appreciate it.” SEPTEMBER 11–22 ½ PRICE CARNIVAL RIDE WRISTBANDS On the other hand, if the invesTwo for the Price of One – All Darn Day!
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income, and that can fluctuate. “There are many moving pieces to Medicaid and the Marketplace,” said Sperling, a former director of the New Mexico Health Insurance Alliance. “People will be entering the insurance world for the first time with either Medicaid or the marketplace with a premium tax credit, and will not have a clear understanding on how to navigate the health care system. … People will get frustrated, and it won’t be easy to fix; but it will eventually get there.” Overcoming The kickoff for the New challenges Mexico Exchange is set for Tuesday, and more informaThe Centennial Care application and the insurance exchange tion will be available later in the month. Administrators say process are supposed to work together, although Weinberg and it will be ready Oct. 1. “In the next year there will others said glitches are inevitable. be a lot of confusion, I’m sure,” Northern New Mexico has added Reichelt, who is a selfa lot of workers who freelance and change jobs. People get mar- described Pollyanna. “But it’s ried, divorced, have and adopt not bad confusion, it’s good children. People who change jobs confusion. There will be a lot and make more money might of problem solving, and then want better coverage, and those we’ll see a sharp increase in who move often will want to the number of people covered. change doctors. Getting everyThen, we’ll see an increase in one insured and into the plan demand for health care, and they want — and then allowing then we can work to meet that for changes and revisions — will need. That’s not a bad thing, be an incredible software and it’s a good thing.” service challenge, said Anne Sperling, employee benefits man- Contact Bruce Krasnow at ager of Daniels Insurance Inc. in brucek@sfnewmexican.com. Santa Fe. For instance, if someone qualifies for Centennial Care and then gets another job in 2014, they might no longer be eligible for the free government program and have to buy insurance that carries a monthly premium through the exchange. Some of the premium will be paid by the individual, and some will be paid by the government. But the amount the government pays will change, based on a person’s
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Santa Fe County Meetings Meetings for the week of September 16th, 2013 Board of County Commissioners Special Event Gathering of Counties Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. Expo New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM Maternal & Child Health Council Thursday, September 19, 2013 at noon 2052 Galisteo Street, Suite B Conference Room Investment Committee Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 2 p.m. Legal Conference Room, 102 Grant Ave. County Development Review Committee (CDRC) Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 4 p.m. County Commission Chambers, 102 Grant Ave. Extraterritorial Land Use Commission Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 6 p.m. County Commission Chambers, 102 Grant Ave.
For More information call 505-986-6200 or visit www.santafecountynm.gov
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