Oriana Bottaro and Melissa Luna
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — New Mexico Legal professional Normal Raul Torrez introduced Tuesday morning, July 16, that the New Mexico Division of Justice (NMDOJ) might be launching an investigation right into a Las Cruces hospital after it allegedly refused to deal with most cancers sufferers amongst different allegations, the NMDOJ introduced in a press launch.
The NMDOJ says Memorial Medical Middle, situated in Las Cruces, is being accused of refusing to deal with most cancers sufferers, denying or requiring full upfront funds from a number of uninsured or Medicaid-eligible sufferers, failing to display sufferers for monetary help, and denying medical companies to sufferers, violating New Mexico regulation.
Sufferers who had been denied care at Memorial Medical Middle had been “compelled to hunt therapy in Albuquerque and different cities as their healthcare wants had been, and nonetheless are, dire,” the NMDOJ mentioned.
NBC Information broke a narrative concerning the hospital denying care to most cancers sufferers final month, which resulted in a press convention being held by the NMDOJ Tuesday.
Torrez mentioned his workplace has “investigators and litigators attending to the underside of how that ethical failure occurred.”
He urges anybody with related experiences to achieve out to his workplace.
The Las Cruces hospital, which says on its web site that they take delight on “offering high-quality care,” may face penalties, Torrez mentioned.
“The announcement that we make immediately is based on various allegations that, if confirmed, may exhibit violations of various state and federal legal guidelines, together with the Unfair Practices Act, the New Mexico Indigent Hospital and County Well being Care Act, and New Mexico Sufferers Debt Assortment Safety Act,” Torrez mentioned.
Memorial Medical Middle supplied the next assertion:
“Memorial Medical Middle was stunned to study of this investigation by Legal professional Normal Torrez throughout his press convention immediately. We stay dedicated to increasing entry to care and being an excellent group accomplice in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County and might be cooperating totally with this investigation.”
The NMDOJ is urging any people who’ve skilled related points with Memorial Medical Middle or different hospital amenities to return ahead. For extra data or to report a grievance, name (505) 490-4060 or go to their web site at www.nmdoj.gov.
