Latest news with #NMDOJ
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NM attorney general and two manufacturers cap diabetes drug costs in settlements
A pharmacy manager retrieves a bottle of antibiotics. (Photo by) Under settlement agreements reached earlier this year and announced by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez on Wednesday, two insulin manufacturers have committed to make the diabetes treatment cheaper for New Mexicans. 'These are huge wins for New Mexicans who have struggled with the outrageous cost of insulin,' Torrez said in a statement. 'These agreements will help people stop rationing medication, avoid financial hardship, and focus on staying healthy. We are holding drug manufacturers accountable and making access to life-saving treatment more equitable.' New Mexico Department of Justice spokesperson Lauren Rodriguez told Source NM that the agreements provide insured patients who might have a high deductible or copay the option to pay cash instead of using their insurance, and to pay no more than $35 for a monthly supply of insulin, Rodriguez said. The New Mexico state law enacted in 2020 that caps insulin costs at $25 remains in full force and is not preempted or replaced by the new settlements, Rodriguez said. Instead, the agreements are 'additive protections mainly aimed at helping cash-paying and uninsured patients, while deferring to state law when it offers better pricing,' she said. As many as 207,600 adults in New Mexico, or approximately 11% of the state's adult population, have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Without the caps, patients in other states could pay $150 per month or more, especially if they require multiple variations of the drug, Stateline reports. More states are doing what they can to cap insulin costs High out-of-pocket costs have historically forced many patients to choose between buying insulin and meeting other basic needs, NMDOJ said in a news release. The settlements result from the agency's independent investigations into insulin pricing practices, NMDOJ said. The state's agreement with Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, signed on April 18, requires the company to maintain its Insulins ValYou Savings Program, which allows patients who pay out-of-pocket to receive a month's supply for $35. The Sanofi settlement also requires it to maintain its Patient Connection Program, which allows uninsured patients who aren't eligible for Medicaid and whose annual household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty line to receive insulin for free. Under the settlement, Sanofi must also provide patients live phone and translation support in Spanish, Hmong, Somali and Mandarin Chinese; and participating pharmacies will receive training to help patients enroll in affordability programs. The settlement with Novo Nordisk Inc., signed on May 19, requires the company to maintain its MyInsulinRX Program, which offers diabetes patients the option to pay $35 or less for a monthly prescription. Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk must also continue its Patient Assistance Program, which offers insulin for free. The settlement also requires Novo Nordisk to notify pharmacies about available discounts at the point of sale, help patients enroll on the spot and offer live phone and website chat support in Spanish. Reporter Danielle Prokop contributed reporting to this story. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Jury convicts Albuquerque man who was arrested during online sex sting operation
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A man who was arrested as part of the New Mexico Department of Justice's online predator undercover chat operation was found guilty in court Wednesday. A jury convicted Mahmoud Telfah of child solicitation by electronic communication device and meets with a child, as well as sexual exploitation of children by prostitution (hires) (attempt). Albuquerque father charged in 5-month-old daughter's death changes plea Telfah connected with an undercover account posing to be a 15-year-old female via a SkipTheGames ad in October 2024, according to investigators. Officials said Telfah inquired about the prices of sexual acts and agreed to meet up. The next day, he arrived at the designated location and was arrested by the NMDOJ and APD. 'This man was arrested after showing up to meet what he believed was an underage child for sex. He deserves to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. We will not tolerate this kind of exploitation in New Mexico—and we will keep fighting to keep our children safe, both online and off,' Attorney General Raúl Torrez stated in part in a news release. At the time of his arrest, Telfah was a graduate student at the University of New Mexico. He will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing, which will be scheduled at a later date. He faces up to six years in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NMDOJ launches website for New Mexicans to report federal program disruptions
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Department of Justice has a new webpage up to help people who are affected by federal disruptions coming out of Washington D.C. New Mexicans can fill out a form about disruptions related to Social Security, federal funding freezes, mass layoffs, and other federal-related issues. New Mexico health experts warn against buying kids baby ducks or chicks for Easter The NMDOJ will track these issues and report them to the public through the site. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Las Cruces therapist indicted for alleged Medicaid fraud
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The owner of Equine Assisted Programs of Southern New Mexico (EAP) in Las Cruces, which uses animals for mental health therapy, was indicted on Wednesday, March 5, for submitting false Medicaid claims totaling nearly $1 million, the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) said in a news release. NMDOJ said Nancy Marshall is charged with 18 felonies, including one count of fraud, nine counts of Medicaid fraud, six counts of falsification of documents, and two counts of identity theft. If convicted on all counts, Marshall could face over 80 years in prison, NMDOJ added. 'Medical providers should be held accountable not only for their duties to their patients but should also be held to high standards when it comes to accurate and lawful billing,' said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. 'This indictment should be a powerful signal to anyone who thinks they can take advantage of patients and taxpayers: we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.' NMDOJ said the case was brought to their attention after two key staff members terminated their employment with EAP. These employees expressed concerns regarding improper practices that they witnessed while employed by Marshall, while also expressing concern for the patients of EAP, NMDOJ said. The NMDOJ's Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau (MFEAB) conducted an investigation, and 'unveiled a multitude of alleged false Medicaid claims over approximately two and a half years, including allegations that the defendant was billing for services that were never rendered, billing for treatment of children who were actually in school at the time of the alleged service and committing identity theft by utilizing the National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers of other therapists for improper billing.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
KRQE Newsfeed: DWI lawsuit, Musk lawsuit, Stormy day, City communication, New equipment
Suspect charged with fatal stabbing on Albuquerque city bus Leaders to consider Guaranteed Income program for some ABQ families Young boy honored for donating organs following death in Santa Fe mobile home fire City of Albuquerque using goats to mitigate fire risk in the Bosque UNM, City of Albuquerque working to expand university's presence downtown What's happening around New Mexico February 14-20 [1] Victims of DWI scheme file class action lawsuit – Victims of the DWI corruption scandal involving officers from multiple law enforcement agencies are joining forces in a class action lawsuit. A group of local attorneys are calling the scheme a widespread issue of systemic corruption. Since the feds started charging key players in the scheme, more victims have come forward. [2] NMDOJ joins other states to sue Elon Musk, DOGE – New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and 13 other attorney general's are taking legal action against DOGE and Elon Musk. Recently, Musk, who was granted access to sensitive government data, played a role in cutting the federal workforce and pushed to eliminate entire agencies. Torrez argued that President Trump violated the appointments clause of the U.S. Constitution by creating a new federal department without congressional approval and by granting Musk over federal agencies without the consent of the Senate. In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs are asking the courts to invalidate Musk's work and bar him from issuing any orders to anyone in the executive branch outside of DOGE. [3] Snow, rain, & wind in New Mexico on Valentine's Day – Mountain snow is moving into northwest and northern New Mexico and southwest Colorado. Some of this snow will be heavy at times, especially in southwest Colorado and in the northern mountains. Lower elevations will see a break in the precipitation before a line of rain and mountain snow moves in from the west early Friday afternoon. For Albuquerque, we will likely stay dry most of the day, with increasing rain chances by Friday evening. It will fizzle out by late Friday night, but some mountain snow showers will continue through the overnight hours. Quieter weather returns late Friday night into early Saturday morning. [4] ABQ City Council President calls for better communication with Mayor's Administration – Albuquerque's city council president calls it a major breakdown in communication between councilors and Mayor Tim Keller's administration. The conflict comes after the Keller administration told councilors they need to start emailing their questions for department heads ahead of council meetings to ensure accurate answers. Thursday, Councilor Brook Bassan released a letter saying she is now considering not putting the mayor's items on council agendas. In response to Bassan's letter, the Chief Administrative Officer says she's 'always happy to discuss whatever challenges individual councilors are having.' [5] New weather station on the Zuni Pueblo expected to save lives – A key piece of equipment that could save lives is up and running on the Zuni Pueblo. The new weather station at the Andrew Othello Airport is now the official weather station for the Zuni Pueblo area, providing real time updates to pilots and meteorologists. Community leaders says this will be a game changer for them and for the critical patient care that is needed in the area, an issue that was highlighted when hundreds of emergency calls couldn't be answered during bad weather. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
