Officials: COVID a financial hammer on New Mexico hospitals

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico hospital officials say the pandemic is financially stressing to the health care providers because the money they get for treating COVID-19 patients doesn’t keep pace with rising costs. New Mexico Hospital Association President and CEO Troy Clark said it’s incorrect to think that hospitals are doing OK financially because they’re full. Clark said that assumption doesn’t take into account that federal relief provided hospitals hasn’t made up for reimbursement shortfalls. University of New Mexico Hospital CEO Kate Becker said the hospital’s expenses have outpaced revenues by $4.6 million for the fiscal year now half over.