On December 8, 2022, New Mexico Attorney General, Hector Balderas, announced that the State of New Mexico filed a lawsuit against the Alta Vista Regional Medical Center (“Alta Vista”), Las Vegas, New Mexico, and the hospital’s owner, Quorum Health Resources. The lawsuit was brought under the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act, as well as other state laws.
The complaint alleges that Alta Vista routinely advertised services it was unable to perform or was only able to perform in a substandard manner, including OB/GYN, Pediatric, Surgical, Emergency Room, Respiratory, Post-Operative and Medical Testing Services. The complaint also alleges financial mismanagement, including exorbitant billing of patients.
The complaint alleges that following the resignation of Alta Vista’s entire Medical Executive Committee, procedures to refill the positions were not properly conducted, resulting in the lack of sufficient oversight of Alta Vista’s medical operations.
The complaint alleges that even the most basic janitorial services, including services to assure areas used for the care of patients with infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19), were not properly cleaned.
The complaint further alleges that Alta Vista’s Owner, Quorum Health Resources, failed or refused to take corrective action for the problems identified in the lawsuit.
The State of New Mexico is seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions barring Alta Vista from engaging in advertising for services it does not provide and from engaging in unconscionable billing practices. It is also seeking Alta Vista’s payment of civil penalties, restitution, and other fees and associated costs.
The State of New Mexico’s December 8, 2022 press release may be viewed HERE.
The Albuquerque Journal’s article concerning New Mexico’s lawsuit in this matter was updated today (December 10, 2022) and may be viewed HERE.
