Lawmakers want a special audit of ValueOptions contract; providers’ association says it fears ‘slow, inaccurate, or untimely payments’ from OptumHealth during transition If legislators and behavioral health providers are to be believed, the state’s transition between behavioral health contracts has been rocky on both ends. A bipartisan group of 13 state legislators sent a letter to State Auditor Hector Balderas on Monday requesting a special audit of the contract with the outgoing provider, ValueOptions, which expired June 30. The lawmakers, who were organized by Rep. Nate Cote, D-Las Cruces, lodged a host of complaints including that providers were not being reimbursed in a timely manner or at all for services they provided, that clients were being inappropriately denied service and that the company retaliated against providers who complained. The legislators also stated in the letter that they are “concerned with the response of the responsible state agencies to complaints.” In an interview, Cote said the problems are longstanding but appear to have gotten worse as ValueOptions was heading out the door. He said he has received several complaints from constituents, including a provider in Las Cruces whose clinic is on the verge of closing because of about $500,000 in claims that haven’t been paid. Continue Reading