SANTA FE – The Health Care Authority has issued an emergency rule to amend the Employee Abuse Registry so older adults, people with disabilities, and others who need help with daily care are protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.   

Under the revised rule, health care providers must check the Employee Abuse Registry before hiring staff and cannot employ individuals listed on it. The registry tracks individuals with substantiated cases of abuse, neglect or exploitation, which will prevent them to work in the field. 

“This emergency rule is a critical step in making sure that individuals receiving care are protected,” said Dan Lanari, director of HCA’s Division of Health Improvement. “By updating standards for caregiver offenses that can be referred for placement on the Employee Abuse Registry, we are creating a safer system for some of our most vulnerable populations.”  

The rule aligns with House Bill 131 to protect vulnerable New Mexicans from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.  The bill expands the list of criminal offenses that would disqualify an applicant from being hired as a caregiver. This strengthens the screening process and adds safeguards to protect New Mexicans receiving care. 

HB 131 is sponsored by Reps. Liz Thomson, Dayan Hochman-Vigil, Kathleen Cates, and Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez. 

The emergency rule took effect Feb. 11 and can be found on the State Records Center and Archives registry. 

### 

We talk, interpret and smile in all languages.  We provide written information to our customers in both English and Spanish and interpretation services are available in 58 languages through our provider, CTS Language Link. For our hearing, and speech impaired customers, we utilize Relay New Mexico, a free 24-hour service that ensures equal communication access via the telephone to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled.