State Health Department faces $6 million deficit

[TexasTowelie]

The New Mexico Department of Health, which only two years ago had a $27 million surplus, now has a projected deficit of nearly $6 million. One veteran state lawmaker said Tuesday that is due, at least in part, to the department’s practice of contracting with private nursing services to help staff state-operated health facilities.

State Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela and other legislators grilled department officials about the issue Tuesday during a meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee.

Read more: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/health_and_science/state-health-department-faces-million-deficit/article_1ad1147a-c12e-5733-b431-21add5b47622.html

[left-of-center2012]

1. Wonder about this sentence

state health officials listed several reasons for the deficit. These included ....the cost of litigation ...”

I also wonder if the N.M.'s GOP administration's anti-union stance is keeping them from hiring more permanent staff instead of temps.