Commentary: Democratic Senate leaders today expressed their serious concerns and frustration over news that the third of five behavioral health providers brought in from Arizona by the Martinez administration in 2013 will leave the state within 90 days. Agave Health Inc., which provides mental health and substance abuse treatment services in 11 New Mexico counties, announced that beginning July 1, 2016, it will longer operate in the state. The senators warned that the newest pullout of another provider will create fresh disruption to the care and treatment of many fragile individuals, and called on the Governor to respond to the situation.
“Once again, the most vulnerable of our state are paying the price for the irresponsible actions of this administration,” said Senate Majority Leader Michael S. Sanchez (D-29-Valencia, Bernalillo). “The clients of this provider will be left with little or no options for their mental health services. In Valencia County, Medicaid recipients will have nowhere to turn to address their behavioral and substance abuse issues. These services are not a luxury, and are not easily replaceable. We are witnessing a slow motion train wreck for many New Mexicans.”
Agave Inc. was one of five Arizona behavioral health providers brought in to provide services after 15 New Mexico behavioral health providers were shut down by the Martinez administration amid accusations of Medicaid billing fraud. To date, 13 of the providers have been cleared of any wrongdoing, but subsequently suffered financial ruin after the false accusations. Several lawsuits related to the take-over are currently pending.
“At the time of the take-over in 2013, we were assured by the administration that no services would be disrupted and clients would have a smooth transition. Unfortunately, as time as proven, this is far from reality. It is unconscionable what clients have had to endure for nearly three years, and today we learned that the disruptions in care will continue,” said Sen. Howie Morales (D-28-Catron, Grant, Socorro). “Agave’s pullout will also lead to further job losses for more of New Mexico’s hardworking employees,” he added.
The Democratic senators pointed out that the administration’s actions on behavioral health still continue to cause patients to be hurt, that hard-working people have lost their jobs and reputations, and New Mexico small businesses were shuttered.
Three years ago funding for 15 established mental health providers was terminated after they were wrongly accused of defrauding Medicaid of $36 million by the Martinez administration. Five Arizona firms – at least one of whom was connected to campaign donations to the Governor- then were brought into New Mexico, including Agave Inc., to deliver services at a cost of more than $17 million.