[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6131863,"mediaKeyId","5727763-74a327e5188b146a2b563e4ae430ab24","parentId",5727763,"title","New Mexico outlines Native American early-childhood advisory coalition and 'Sacred Beginnings' learning tour","audioSeconds",1098,"startMs",5609000,"endMs",6707000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5727763-74a327e5188b146a2b563e4ae430ab24&start=5609&end=6707","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5727763-74a327e5188b146a2b563e4ae430ab24/thumbnail_5609000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6131863/New-Mexico/New-Mexico-outlines-Native-American-early-childhood-advisory-coalition-and-Sacred-Beginnings-learning-tour","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6131863-f9a5c3270ad75e6c566fd7c529d76a21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173546&Signature=ZS7NumffQK2wKIwwCuBrgTST-pWGLNuIRFStEMXegKeiyS3oL6VDxn~gb7JphD-AxKZ5l2dW40ITd9yXd8wbbRhDX3hmcDp1dcUZQdPE2EDDT15j4usTRiMiUWK06g8Yl~hCgraDYoI10TW6WpTKCgc3Y~O89uZM6jaA6zUo8Vs2pm8W8HB957etLMXillewiqKjEF93MktmL6Eh93hW4TxgecRktSr8QNFmLw~8OYJbPFiJIje0wh2poTy3rgy66cKcSUNEKWRwhBnmHgq8OgW1-ABmRxW~6psQOe0BR0npBbOwGOV9rfPIpDQbOIPfS1o19bfW2SEDaNdHd5KQIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Mexico Legislature","date","2025-08-20T00:00:00Z","article","The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) presented an overview of its Native American early-education office and the New Mexico Early Childhood Tribal Advisory Coalition (NEMECTEC) to the Legislative Health & Human Services Committee on Aug. 20.

Dr. Joni Suena, assistant secretary for Native American early education and care, described a coalition of tribal-appointed representatives and a forthcoming \"Sacred Beginnings\" learning tour designed to spotlight tribal language- and culture-based early-childhood programs and to guide agency policy and technical assistance.

Why it matters: ECECD officials said the office and coalition intend to strengthen government-to-government consultation, aggregate data about Native children’s participation in programs and align state technical assistance and funding to tribal priorities and culturally grounded curricula.

Presentation highlights
- Office and mission: Dr. Suena, an enrolled member of Pueblo de Cochiti and former Head Start director, said the office is the only state-level Native American early-education office of its kind in the nation and was created to support tribal sovereignty, language immersion and culturally responsive prenatal-to-5 systems.
- Tribal advisory coalition (NEMECTEC): The coalition, established in 2022, includes representatives appointed by tribal leadership; at the time of presentation it included representatives from 19 nations, Pueblos or tribes. The coalition advises the department on consultation, programming and tribal investments.
- Sacred Beginnings learning tour: ECECD plans visits beginning in September to tribal early-childhood centers to observe language-immersion models, curricula and family engagement practices with the aim of informing FY27 policy and funding strategies.
- Data and partnerships: Dr. Suena said the office is working to refine data collection so that state-level reporting can be disaggregated to the tribal level. The office also works with tribal colleges, language nests and Head Start, and seeks to ensure materials and outreach are culturally relevant.

Questions and committee discussion
- Legislators asked about facilities, facility assessments and whether tribal colleges and technical institutions (for example, Navajo Technical University) could be partners for lab programs or workforce pathways. Dr. Suena said the department is compiling facility assessments and working with consultants to identify needs.
- Representatives asked about urban Native children and disability services: Dr. Suena said ECECD seeks broader urban representation and partners such as EPICS (Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special needs), New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and New Mexico School for the Deaf to ensure disability supports are included.
- Several members praised Cochiti Pueblo’s language-immersion and program model and invited legislators to join site visits.

Programmatic details and outreach
- ECECD said it maintains a roster of tribal liaisons and staff to provide one-on-one technical assistance; materials (reports and outreach packets) were distributed to committee members.
- The learning tour will include tribal leadership, center directors and program staff and aims to elevate best practices and inform technical-assistance priorities, culturally grounded assessment tools and future tribal investments.

Ending
Dr. Suena invited committee members to the learning tour and offered ECECD assistance in providing county- or tribe-specific data snapshots on native children’s participation in state programs. Committee members expressed support and asked ECECD to continue strengthening data collection and coordination with other agencies.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Legislative Health and Human Services Committee Aug 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Early Childhood Education and Care Department described a Native American early-education office, a tribal advisory coalition and a planned 'Sacred Beginnings' learning tour to strengthen language, cultural immersion and coordination with tribal programs across New Mexico.","taxTitle","Legislative Health & Human Services, Interim, Committees, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",65389,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6131867,"Rehoboth McKinley hospital warns of rising malpractice costs and insurance gaps; committee seeks documents",709,1937000,2646000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5727763-74a327e5188b146a2b563e4ae430ab24&start=1937&end=2646","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5727763-74a327e5188b146a2b563e4ae430ab24/thumbnail_1937000.jpg","/articles/6131867/New-Mexico/Rehoboth-McKinley-hospital-warns-of-rising-malpractice-costs-and-insurance-gaps-committee-seeks-documents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6131867-8aeb226b02f0e3e83d3594e54ef3d78e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173546&Signature=N~n1x2oMGK1usrwIAJIM-yAtWQGb~HS8wxtusl8Ay3RBp7B81At6nEpe8QlZH-Df4NQtSS~7VH-7CuZikEYJbf7ad9Nn2XvZN6BYDmY5Gn4ht4Iun7TT5qTkCLGmmU1W9l6q1s4NA4o1VvViL0JqaTf2fnmiJRrDai7QIlneTPKJRymhJYvEt8AIMRA3275MoFOzy3W5CXJ6Ouccj9e6rqiE-Zs~qGRxARLbl8qH-sZZw043DflNTSqdZKLDbA3iyofdxPpam3myrsQXsJzWXd-l3D2-PKTNZODMVaSxYGVHcs73hEfJNmkCTMiUwhtC3z-N~~HbG8FS66XTewl87Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rehoboth McKinley Christian Healthcare Services (RMCHCS) told the New Mexico Legislative Health & Human Services Committee on Aug. 20 that the hospital faces sharply higher medical-malpractice premiums and shrinking excess-insurance availability that together place a small, rural hospital at financial risk.

Jeff Link, RMCHCS vice president for quality, compliance and risk, and David McGrail, the hospital’s chief financial officer, briefed legislators on malpractice-market changes, the hospital’s current finances and recent flood damage to operating rooms.

Link said the hospital’s excess-insurance structure has eroded: RMCHCS had $34 million of coverage per event in 2024 for a premium of about $1.2 million, but excess carriers reduced layers and in 2025 the hospital paid about $1.4 million for $14 million in coverage. Link said the hospital’s 2026 estimate is roughly $1.8 million for a $6 million policy and that insurers have told the hospital it may be ineligible for typical excess layers. \"With a cap of $6,000,000 per event, we are just 1 judgment away from going out of business,\" Link told the committee.

Why it matters: Committee members said prospective malpractice judgments, rapidly rising premiums and fewer excess carriers threaten rural hospitals’ ability to recruit and retain providers and to remain solvent — a problem with statewide implications for rural health access.

Key points from the presentation
- Malpractice market and lawsuits: Link described an emerging national litigation strategy around Depo-Provera claims being pursued by a national law firm with local counsel; RMCHCS was named in related filings in Rio Arriba County. He said New Mexico’s punitive-damages environment and venue rules make the state an attractive forum for plaintiffs’ attorneys.
- Insurance numbers reported to the committee (hospital figures): 2024 premium $1,200,000 with $34,000,000 coverage per event; 2025 premium $1,400,000 with $14,000,000 coverage per event; estimated 2026 premium ~$1,800,000 with $6,000,000 coverage per event (final quotes pending). RMCHCS is the only New Mexico hospital in its reciprocal risk-retention group; excess carriers have been withdrawing from the state.
- Financial position and operations: CFO David McGrail said cash on hand rose from 4 days (when he started in January) to about 87 days as of July after state aid and operational changes. The hospital has reinvested roughly $2.9 million year-to-date, including purchasing a 3-D mammography unit.
- Flood damage and remediation: RMCHCS reported two recent floods that shuttered operating rooms and affected imaging. Remediation contractors are onsite and insurance claims are in process; the hospital asked for additional one-time assistance to cover losses while claims and subrogation are pursued.
- Management and staffing: The hospital said it works with a management company, Ovation, under a base advisory fee of roughly $27,000 per month; hospital leaders said Ovation provides subject-matter expertise and does not control day-to-day governance. The hospital reported it had not initiated layoffs in clinical areas and that some workforce adjustments were due to attrition and right-sizing nonclinical functions.

Committee follow-up and requests
- Legislators asked RMCHCS to provide documentation: malpractice premium invoices and renewal quotations, communications from excess carriers, the hospital’s insurance placement summaries, and financial statements including CEO compensation and provider pay scales. Representative Chavez and others asked for specific documentation on premiums and the hospital agreed to share records with the committee.
- The committee scheduled a broader discussion of medical malpractice at its October meeting in Albuquerque with multiple stakeholders invited.

Discussion and quotes
Representative Block asked whether a single large judgment could close the hospital; Link said yes, citing the drop from $34 million to a possible $6 million cap. \"Had we had a judgment of $68,000,000 two years ago, that would have shut our doors,\" Link said.

Limitations and open items
- The hospital said it had been named in litigation and that defendants include drug manufacturers and other parties; RMCHCS said it had not yet fully determined which parties will fund defense costs and that subpoenas and discovery are pending.
- Hospital leaders requested a review of potential legislative or policy options, including revisiting punitive-damages treatment for nonprofit hospitals or facilitating access to the State Patient Compensation Fund; those remedies would require separate legislative or administrative action.

Public comments at the hearing reinforced the hospital’s concerns. Dr. Connie Liu, an area OB/GYN and community organizer, urged malpractice reform and noted that many rural residents rely on Medicaid; Dr. Valerie Wengler, a family physician and founder of Gallup Community Health, said malpractice premiums limit community clinics’ ability to hire additional staff and provide examples of the public-health consequences of reduced primary care capacity.

Ending
The committee asked RMCHCS to provide requested insurance and financial documents and indicated malpractice policy and hospital stability would be a topic at the October meeting. Hospital leaders said they will continue to pursue insurance markets, remediation for flood damage and operational improvements while seeking state support where appropriate.","Hospital leaders said malpractice insurance premiums and shrinking excess coverage threaten the stability of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Healthcare Services, and committee members asked the hospital to provide premium documents, staffing and financial details for follow-up.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6131873,"Gallup domestic-violence nonprofit seeks shelter after county takes title to renovated building",1830,0,1830000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5727763-74a327e5188b146a2b563e4ae430ab24&start=0&end=1830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5727763-74a327e5188b146a2b563e4ae430ab24/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6131873/New-Mexico/Gallup-domestic-violence-nonprofit-seeks-shelter-after-county-takes-title-to-renovated-building","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6131873-6972647c5f531f5dc3d4fff65b7e665d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173546&Signature=mQVvolXh7k1AE6mo3WsOIr0VAbTSwepGI8eVD3as6n5Z9emYuM0hz9N3oFWGOheQOEskvdA0mFAtd~WsBxoj6QLvLS8IrLHjJVVbJZlUVOwmKfi6WrTr6Uq4fkUSEEUK7Mc-c3wY~otYecztnsfiCWBXUXDGf6U33FcBIvB9hfgd-IqlH9OUlNL2wXIHVVQwn7oFHvlscL6HzkpFqMltbRVyCYiVb7ypXlLUtS4QZeBcjbfe-FLL95jCJsyBH-QHo0x6h0gG6D4HYbTwFdiyqa8z2pRw0dU-iFed-VJDp99ME4nzxUdfi92Hi3s2agwpWYdJa8-KHXLvQP49yfRaBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A nonprofit that provides domestic-violence services in Gallup told the New Mexico Legislative Health & Human Services Committee on Aug. 20 that it has been unable to occupy a renovated building after transferring title to the county as part of a capital-outlay arrangement.

The nonprofit representative, Emily, told the committee she and her staff have been operating out of hotels since the state ordered the shelter closed and that the group received a $1 million community-project grant from U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján to buy and renovate a downtown building. \"We're in conversation with the city of Gallup to purchase a building in the downtown area to renovate that and turn that potentially into a transitional housing building or into a shelter,\" Emily said. She added that the group had received 30 referrals between March and July and lacked space to serve them.

Lawmakers pressed for details about funding, landlord relationships and whether the county could return title so the nonprofit could operate without paying high rent. Representative Block called the county's apparent decision to present a lease after a management agreement \"a circular firing squad situation\" and asked whether legislators should withhold future capital outlay requests to pressure the county to resolve the issue.

Why it matters: Committee members said the dispute blocks a locally based provider from operating a shelter and receiving federal grant matches that require in-kind county support. The disagreement also illustrates limits in how capital-outlay and anti-donation rules interact with nonprofit service delivery in rural communities.

What the committee heard
- Emily said the nonprofit once operated a two-story, eight-room shelter before the governor's office and the Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD) required it to close for safety and ventilation problems. The nonprofit moved clients to hotels, which Emily said created security concerns and ongoing costs.
- The nonprofit said it obtained a $1 million federal community-project fund and that conversations are underway with the city about purchasing a downtown property for transitional housing. Emily said the shelter model is currently less likely than creating transitional housing near health services.
- Emily described a management agreement the nonprofit said existed before they transferred title to the county. After renovations were completed with capital funds, the county presented a lease that the nonprofit declined to sign; the county then asserted the nonprofit was in violation of the prior management agreement for not occupying the building.
- Emily said county correspondence set a proposed rent of roughly $10,000 per month for a 1,600-square-foot space. Committee members and Emily discussed common practices elsewhere—using in-kind rent as a local match for federal grants or returning title to nonprofits—but Emily said she worried about legal limits on using federal funds to buy property renovated with state funds.
- Emily said VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) rules limit access to confidential client information by governmental entities, which is why the nonprofit argued a county-owned shelter could hinder compliance with confidentiality rules.

Requests and next steps
- Committee members discussed drafting a letter to the county to request clarification and a remedy; the chair said staff (Zander) would work with Senator Pinto and Representative Johnson to prepare language. Because the interim committee did not yet have a quorum, the letter would be finalized once a quorum could approve it.
- Senator Pinto and others urged the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) to review whether the county’s actions were consistent with statutes and capital-outlay practice; the committee recommended LFC examine physical-agent delays that prevent timely drawdown of earmarked funds.
- The nonprofit said it has legal counsel and that the attorney has been in contact with the county attorney; those communications were described but not entered into the record.

Financial and program details (as reported to the committee)
- Federal/community grant: $1,000,000 community-project fund attributed to Rep. Luján.
- County renovation spending: the nonprofit said the county had spent about $3,800,000 renovating a property at 103 W. Aztec (reported by the nonprofit during Q&A); the nonprofit said the county reported that it had expended most capital-outlay funds rather than reverting them.
- Prior in-kind support: Emily said an earlier arrangement recorded an in-kind county donation valued at $26,000 per year that had been used as match for federal grants.
- Rent/lease: County proposed rent cited in committee discussion: $10,000/month for a 1,600-square-foot building (nonprofit said it did not sign the lease).

Limitations and open questions
- The committee did not receive copies of the management agreement, the county lease, or written correspondence; members asked the nonprofit and staff to provide documentation to the committee and to LFC for review.
- The exact legal basis for the county's change in approach and whether that approach violates any anti-donation rules or capital-outlay restrictions was not resolved during the hearing.

Quote
\"After the renovation, we were presented with a lease agreement that substantially changed the terms of that management agreement which we didn't agree to,\" Emily told the committee when describing the county correspondence.

Ending
Committee members said they would follow up with LFC staff and work with Senator Pinto and local legislators to draft a formal request to the county seeking a resolution. The nonprofit asked to be included in planning for statewide behavioral health and shelter funding decisions; committee members said they would try to expedite information and provide support where possible.","A Gallup nonprofit that runs services for survivors of domestic violence told a legislative committee it lost control of a renovated facility after turning the title over to the county; lawmakers pledged to seek more information and consider a letter asking the county to resolve access and rent disputes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

New Mexico outlines Native American early-childhood advisory coalition and 'Sacred Beginnings' learning tour

Rehoboth McKinley hospital warns of rising malpractice costs and insurance gaps; committee seeks documents

Gallup domestic-violence nonprofit seeks shelter after county takes title to renovated building