Several thousand people diagnosed with cancer who are already fighting for their lives now may have to find new doctors and treatment options and fast following the decision by a major medical group to terminate its contract with New Mexico Cancer Care Associates.
Doctors who work at New Mexico Cancer Care Associates (NMCCA) said that Christus St. Vincent has decided to terminate its contract with the Santa Fe facility months before it was set to expire, according to KOB 4.
"From the time they decided to move in a new direction, they have not been meeting the requirements of their current contractual arrangements for which they are being paid," Lillian Montoya, Christus St. Vincent President and CEO, told KOB 4. "Because of NMCCA'a contractual breaches, we had to plan for termination earlier than anticipated in order to ensure continuity of patient care."
KOB 4 reported the contract was originally scheduled to last through 2022, but Christus St. Vincent's recent announcement moved the date to the end of next month.
Officials told the news outlet the change was unexpected and could cause about 4,000 NMCCA patrons to lose the medical care they currently receive.
In the statement to KOB 4, Montoya added that patients can be reassured they will still be able to receive the care they need after the contract with NMCCA ends.
