A New Mexico Health Department supervisor who complained about understaffing in the division that certifies health care facilities to receive Medicaid funds says she has been targeted.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Amber Espinosa-Trujillo filed a whistleblower lawsuit in state court this week.
According to her attorney, Espinosa-Trujillo was demoted after she complained about a shortage in personnel to review hospitals and other health care sites.
She claims her superiors refused to hire full-time employees for at least half of the division's 50-plus budgeted full-time employee positions. She also says they methodically wasted money by hiring private contractors at rates more than twice what a regular state employee would cost.
The department has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com
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