November
15,2004 Hand
Delivered
Mr. Brian Haines, County Manager
Dona Ana County
Managers Building
Las Cruces, NM 88001
Re. Open Records Request for Information re. MMC/Province
Dear Mr. Haines,
As you are aware, our organization has an ongoing concern
regarding the operation of Memorial Medical Center, as well as peripheral issues
relating to the lease transaction to Province HealthCare which was completed in
June of this year.
Pursuant to the Inspection of Public Records Act (Chapter
14, Article 2 NMA 1978), we request access to the following information:
- Policies related to the care of indigent and uninsured
patients by Province. Province was to provide their written policies to the
County and City within 90 days of taking possession of MMC. Assuming they did
so, we wish to examine those policies.
- Under the Lease, Province was to receive funding from
the city-county to cover care of indigent and uninsured patients over a three
year period. We wish to examine any billings submitted to the County for
reimbursement for such care.
- Under the Lease, Province was to assume the status of
sole provider and be able to receive federal funds for the care of indigent
patients. We wish to examine any billings, records, agreements between the
County and Province relative to their provision of indigent care under the
sole provider provision.
- We assume that the County Commissioners were provided a
detailed account of all billings to the city and county by consultants who
arranged or negotiated the MMC/Province lease transaction (Holt, Lupica, et
al). We wish to examine a full and detailed accounting of the monies spent for
these purposes since those consultants were engaged.
- We wish see a final accounting of the MMC/Province
transaction, indicating all costs and proceeds, and how proceeds were divided
between city and county. In addition, we wish to see any resolutions or
related information regarding the countys policy regarding the usage of the
proceeds from the transaction.
- We wish to examine any correspondence, notifications or
related information regarding the proposed transfer or merger of Province
Healthcare into LifePoint Hospitals.
- We wish to see any information related to the Board of
Directors which has been appointed by Province Health Care. We understand that
you, Mr. Haines, have been appointed to serve as the Countys representative,
and that Councilor Archuleta represents the City. Because you, in effect,
represent the citizens of Dona Ana County, we believe any materials you have
received from Province pursuant to your position as a Director, are public
information, and we wish to examine these items.
Please respond to this request via e-mail to the following
addresses:
DrJMKadlecek@aol.com (Dr. Jim Kadlecek) and
Marathonag@zianet.com (Dr. Phil Banks)
..as Co-Chairs of Southern New Mexico
Common Cause
Respectfully,
Dr. James M. Kadlecek
Co-Chairman
Southern New Mexico Common Cause
Ph. 505-541-1566