Fort Bayard Medical Center
News and Updates
News and Updates
February 11th, 2010:
Department of Health Successfully Secures Medicare Certification for Ft. Bayard
(Santa Fe) – Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil, MD, announced today that the New Mexico Department of Health has regained Medicare recertification for Fort Bayard Medical Center, a long-term care facility in Grant County that provides care to about 120 people from across New Mexico. Getting the Medicare certification means the Department of Health can receive federal reimbursement for providing skilled care for residents who need physical rehabilitation.
"This is one more step in the right direction for Fort Bayard Medical Center," Dr. Vigil said. "I appreciate how hard our staff from Fort Bayard and the Facilities Division has worked to improve the care we deliver at Fort Bayard."
To give Fort Bayard a fresh start, the Department of Health voluntarily gave up the facility’s Medicare and Medicaid certification and immediately reapplied for a new certification in March 2008. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Fort Bayard's Medicare recertification as of June 2009. CMS had recertified Fort Bayard in Medicaid as of June 2008. Medicare has more stringent regulations than Medicaid.
"I would like to extend my congratulations to the staff at Fort Bayard Medical Center for this accomplishment," said Rep. Rudy S. Martinez. "The dedication and hard work by each and every employee at Fort Bayard have once again proven that this facility provides excellent care for all residents."
To qualify for recertification, the Department took over daily management of Fort Bayard, created positions to oversee and monitor care provided in all of the Department facilities, and evaluated and improved training for infection control, care planning and reporting of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
"Thanks to the staff at Fort Bayard Medical Center for working hard to achieve certification and ensure that residents receive the best of care," said Sen. Howie Morales.
The Department is working with the New Mexico General Services Department to build a new state-of-the-art facility in Santa Clara, near the current facility. The state is entering into a lease-to-own agreement with Grant County, which is providing the land where the facility is being built. The Department expects the building will be complete by October 2011.
October 1st, 2009: