Roosevelt County approves 14 indigent-healthcare claims totaling $13,983.42; disapproves 16 claims

At 9:41 a.m. on Feb. 17, 2026, the Roosevelt County Commission recessed briefly into an indigent-healthcare review. Special Programs Coordinator Carla Weems presented 30 claims submitted for payment that totaled $32,671.42 and recommended approval of 14 claims totaling $13,983.42 while recommending disapproval of 16 claims totaling $18,688.00. Weems said the recommended disapprovals included patients who were brought in by Portales Police Department or Eastern New Mexico University Police, those who had Medicaid at the time of service, or patients who were not detainees at the time of service.

Commissioner Malin Parker moved to go into the indigent-healthcare review at 9:41 a.m.; Commissioner Fabian Munoz seconded. The commission returned to open session at 9:43 a.m., and Commissioner Roy Lee Criswell moved to approve the report as presented by Weems with a second from Commissioner Fabian Munoz. The commission’s recorded voice votes were unanimous in favor for the motions to enter and exit the review and for the approval of the report.

The approved claims total $13,983.42; the meeting record shows recommended disapprovals totaling $18,688.00 for the reasons stated by Weems. No further action or appeals were recorded at the meeting.