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Federal judge holds New Mexico Cabinet secretary in contempt

hsd.state.nm.us

A federal judge is holding New Mexico Human Services Department Secretary Brent Earnest in contempt for failing to comply with court orders aimed at improving the administration of food aid and Medicaid health care benefits.

U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Gonzales issued the contempt order on Tuesday and endorsed findings by a federal magistrate that the Cabinet secretary did not diligently attempt to comply with court orders concerning the handling of Medicaid benefit renewals, aid eligibility for immigrants, training for agency employees and other administrative requirements.

Gonzales previously agreed to the appointment of a court-appointed "special master" to help ensure federally funded benefits are administered properly by the Human Services Department amid internal investigations by state and federal agencies into allegations that food aid applications were falsified.

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