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New Mexico News

CANDIDATES CLASH OVER HEALTHCARE
Posted by () on May 21 2008 at 2:53 PM
NM News >>

     Republican U.S. Senate candidates Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce are clashing over their recent votes on a measure that could have a $169 million-a-year impact on hospitals across New Mexico.
     Wilson, the Albuquerque-based 1st Congressional District representative, told the Journal she was "absolutely stunned" that Pearce cast a vote against placing a hold on new Medicaid rules that have medical administrators warning of widespread cuts.
     "They will have a devastating effect on New Mexico" if they go into effect, said Wilson, who last month voted in favor of the one-year hold.
     "Here's one of the differences between Steve and I: I will not vote against the interests of the state of New Mexico to satisfy a narrow ideological agenda," Wilson said. "He will always vote to supposedly save money, even if it makes no sense— and that's what he did here."
     Pearce, the 2nd Congressional District representative, said Medicaid has been fraught with abuse for years, and the regulations— backed by the Bush administration— at least are an attempt to combat it.
     Pearce also said he has been backing a narrower House measure that would place a hold on two of the regulations that would have the largest financial impact.
"I'm supportive of our rural health (care)— I'm a product of that. I don't have any desire to hurt them," Pearce said. "But what I do desire is to start reining in the people who are literally stealing from the American public."
     The House, with a 349-62 vote, last month approved a measure to place a one-year moratorium on seven Medicaid rules changes that would cut the federal share of the health care program for the poor, disabled and elderly by an estimated $13 billion over five years.
     The Bush administration maintains the new rules are needed to close loopholes that allow states to improperly bill the federal government for billions of dollars.
     Supporters of the hold, which is pending in the Senate, contend the regulations simply dump more financial burden on the states.
     Carolyn Ingram, Medicaid director for the New Mexico Human Services Department, said the state estimates the regulations would cut $168.7 million in federal Medicaid money for New Mexico hospitals in fiscal 2009 alone.
     All 50 U.S. governors oppose the rule changes, and Wilson maintains they were written too broadly and affect "entirely legitimate" programs.
     "This is a moratorium to get this right," Wilson said.
     Pearce pointed out that some of the proposed rules were also postponed last year, adding that federal auditors for a dozen years have been chronicling billions of dollars of "waste, fraud and abuse" in the Medicaid system.
     "If the Democratic majority really is serious about curing the problems, then get around and cure them," Pearce said. "What we need to do is start taking care of our business— and taking care of the abuses."
 

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