ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is putting more pressure on state insurance regulators to collect millions of dollars in unpaid premium taxes from health insurance providers operating in the state.
Balderas in a letter sent Wednesday to Insurance Superintendent John Franchini asked for an accounting of what is owned by each company and what the procedure will be for collecting the money.
The letter follows Balderas' announcement of an $18.5 million settlement with Presbyterian Health Plan to resolve claims of unpaid taxes that dated back more than a decade.
A recent state-commissioned audit found tax underpayments of $65 million by a long list of companies since 2003.
Balderas says the money should be collected in a quick and transparent manner.
Franchini's office has yet to respond to Balderas' request.