New Mexico Ensures Services Continue For People With Developmental Disabilities

Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil announced today that other providers are ready to provide care to people who are currently receiving services through Mosaic. Mosaic, a company that provides supportive services to people who have developmental disabilities, will cut most of its services in northeastern New Mexico effective June 30, 2009. The northeast region covers Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Taos, Los Alamos, San Miguel, Colfax, Union and Harding counties, where Mosaic serves about 75 individuals.

Mosaic's services include providing job coaching and employment assistance as well as supporting people to live in their homes, develop functional and social skills and be involved in their communities. Mosaic also provides respite care to relieve caregivers and transportation.

Mosaic asked the Department of Health to amend its provider agreement to allow the business to provide only family living services, up to 24-hour support for one person in a family setting, to 34 people in the northeast. The business will continue all its services in northwestern New Mexico. The Department has heard from a new company and providers doing business elsewhere in the state that are interested in expanding services to people currently served by Mosaic. Mosaic is required to continuing serving people until they have transitioned to a new provider.

"Most importantly, we are confident that we will have enough companies who will replace Mosaic so people continue to receive all the services they need," Dr. Vigil said. "Our number one goal is to ensure a smooth transition between providers."

Mosaic's decision was based on profits in the northeast. The Department has worked with Mosaic on finances, including providing technical assistance around billing issues, and offering to waive accreditation to save the provider money. The Department is also covering some of Mosaic's costs related to the transition, in 2006, of several individuals into Mosaic from an agency no longer doing business in New Mexico.

In 2007, the New Mexico Legislature and Governor Richardson approved a 3 to 5.9 percent rate increase for businesses that provide services to people who have developmental disabilities.

Mosaic has been doing business in New Mexico since 1992. The company began providing services in the northeast region in 2006.