Mexico passes bill that gives OSI, HCAD say in hospital acquisitions

A bill to give the state a say in hospital acquisitions passed the House on Friday afternoon. Proponents argue this will help keep rural hospitals in business.

The Health Care Consolidation Oversight Act would give the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance and the Health Care Authority Department a say in hospital acquisitions.

The parties involved would have to submit information about the acquisition to those departments, including a description of the people who would likely be affected by it.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque). Fellow Senator George Muñoz (D-Gallup) supported the bill, saying it would protect rural hospitals from predatory practices.

“These corporations move into New Mexico, they’re not moving in to save rural hospitals. They’re moving in to increase their profit margins,” he said. “Where is the easiest prey? And the most money I can make in the corporate world?”

Hospital acquisitions in recent years have often led to higher prices and made some hospitals more vulnerable to closing.

There have been almost 200 closures of rural hospitals in the last 20 years across the U.S.

New Mexico Hospital Association President Troy Clark told the Legislative Finance Committee at an interim hearing in September that over two thirds of the state’s hospitals saw expenses exceed revenues over the last year. KUNM