New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has launched an investigation into Las Cruces, N.M.-based Memorial Medical Center over alleged essential medical care denial, the state's justice department reported July 16.
The allegations claim that the hospital violated New Mexico law by refusing to provide treatment to indigent cancer patients, denied patients medical services and failed to screen patients for financial assistance.
"Memorial Medical Center was surprised to learn of this investigation by Attorney General Torrez during his press conference today," a spokesperson for the hospital said in a July 16 statement shared with Becker's. "We remain committed to expanding access to care and being a good community partner in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County and will be cooperating fully with this investigation."
Initial reports point to the hospital possibly denying care or requiring upfront and full payments from multiple patients who are Medicaid-eligible or uninsured. Many of the patients who were denied care by the hospital were forced to find treatment in other cities like Albuquerque.
Should these alleged care denials be proven, the hospital could be in violation of the New Mexico Indigent Hospital and County Health Care Act, the New Mexico Patients' Debt Collection Protection Act and the Unfair Practices Act, the release said.
"We intend to conduct a thorough investigation into how these patients were treated and we’ll be taking a close look at how the acquisition of this hospital by a private equity firm may have resulted in a management system that seems to prioritize profits over patients," Mr. Torrez said.
The state's justice department is asking patients who had similar experiences and were treated at Memorial Medical Center or other hospitals to come forward with their experiences.