City and County share update on MMC hospital agreements

Doña Ana County and the City of Las Cruces held a joint news conference on Monday, March 23 to announce the filing of a Notice of Breach related to agreements with Memorial Medical Center, operated by Lifepoint Health.

For the past 18 months, the county and city have worked to address concerns about how those agreements are being carried out. These efforts included meetings, written requests, and opportunities to correct the issues. At this point, full compliance has not been reached, and progress has slowed.

Leadership from both governments explained that this action follows an extended effort to resolve concerns through communication and voluntary compliance, with multiple opportunities provided to address the issues before taking this step.

The county and city are asking for the agreements to be followed. This includes investment in the hospital, required reporting, and access to care. The goal is to make sure the community receives what was promised. This includes making sure all residents, including those who need indigent care, can receive the care outlined in the agreements.

Both the county and city take this responsibility seriously and are focused on protecting access to care.

Through its spokesman, Memorial Medical Center responded by releasing an official statement.

“Memorial Medical Center has been working in good faith to address the questions and concerns of the City of Las Cruces and Doña Ana County for many months, and we were surprised and disappointed by today’s press conference and lawsuit,” the statement says.

City leadership acknowledged the hardworking staff at Memorial Medical Center and emphasized that this action is not a reflection of their efforts or dedication, but rather a matter of ensuring expectations are met at the leadership level.

County leadership emphasized that this step comes after sustained efforts to resolve concerns, including formal notice and opportunities to cure. While some progress has been made, it has not been enough to achieve full compliance.

The County Manager also noted that this process has included continued coordination with leadership and legal teams to ensure consistency, due diligence, and a clear path forward.

“We strongly believe that we are not in breach of our agreements, and we have been committed to forging a collaborative path aimed at the common goal of ensuring our community has access to the care they need,” Memorial said in its official statement. “We have attempted to discuss the city and county’s latest requests for weeks – even as recently as last week – and continue to be rebuffed.”

Both governments will continue to meet with Memorial Medical Center and Lifepoint and remain open to working together to meet the terms of the agreements. At the same time, after many efforts to resolve these issues, both governments are now seeking the court’s assistance to help move the process forward.

Leadership also emphasized that litigation is not the preferred path, but it is a necessary step at this time to ensure the agreements are followed.

The goal has not changed - to ensure the agreements are followed and the commitments made to this community are met.

“We are proud of our team and the work we are doing to build healthcare services in this region, grow and foster our healthcare workforce, and strengthen our community,” Memorial said. “We remain dedicated to finding a positive way forward as quickly as possible. We hope city and county officials share this commitment.”

Residents can review previously released information related to Memorial Medical Center through the City of Las Cruces Public Records Center.

The news conference video is available here: Doña Ana County Government.

More details will be limited as this matter moves through a legal process.

The Bulletin is meeting with officials later this week to discuss the details of the legal situation and possible resolutions. This story will be updated after those interviews are completed.