2006 New Mexico Statutes - Section 27-5-13 — Claim shall not expire because of lack of funds; priority of claims.

27-5-13. Claim shall not expire because of lack of funds; priority of claims.

A claim made to the board for payment for the care of an indigent patient shall not expire or become invalid because of the lack of money in the fund during any fiscal year but shall be carried over into the ensuing fiscal year and, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, shall be paid in the ensuing year. Whenever the balance of the fund is inadequate to pay all qualified claims as they become due, the claims of in-state hospitals providing acute medical care shall have priority for payment over all other claims regardless of the dates the other claims were submitted. The board shall, however, on a regular basis, estimate future demands upon the fund, based on past experience, and set aside sufficient funds to assure payment for in-state hospitals providing acute medical care and shall then address, on a regular basis, the claims from other hospitals or ambulance services.