Behavioral Health in NM, Marilyn Martinez

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced this week that an investigation did not find credible evidence of fraud at 10 more behavioral health providers across the state. In 2013, the New Mexico Human Services Department cut off Medicaid funding to 15 providers after alleging fraudulent billing and misuse of funds. This week on New Mexico in Focus, host Gene Grant leads a discussion on this issue with the Line opinion panelists.

Producer Sarah Gustavus sits down with a Generation Justice fellow and a leader in the behavioral health field to talk about the ongoing challenges people are facing in New Mexico as they seek out treatment for themselves or loved ones.

And Marilyn Martinez is a disability rights advocate who uses her own story to push for reforms at the local and state level. She joins Sarah in studio to share how she gained independence as an adult and the changes she believes would help improve the lives of people with disabilities in New Mexico.

GUESTS:
Marilyn Martinez, disability rights advocate
Christina Rodriguez, Generation Justice Fellow
Fred Sandoval, National Latino Behavioral Health Association

LINE PANELISTS:
Tom Garrity, the Garrity Group PR
Sophie Martin, an attorney and editor of DukeCityFix.com
Laura Sanchez-Rivét, attorney at Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP
Rachel Sams, editor of Albuquerque Business First

CORRESPONDENTS:
Sarah Gustavus

HOST:
Gene Grant

The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Sarah Gustavus. Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation Communications Fund, Santa Fe Community Foundation.

Episode 932 airs February 12, 2016 at 7:00pm on Ch.5.1