AI Generated Opinion Summaries

This summary was computer-generated without any editorial revision. It is not official, has not been checked for accuracy, and is NOT citable.

Facts

• THI of New Mexico at Las Cruces, LLC, operating the Las Cruces Nursing Center, filed a Medicaid assistance application on behalf of Manuel Zuniga, a quadriplegic patient, which was denied. The denial was based on THI not being a proper party to represent Zuniga's interests, leading to THI's appeal. The appeal was dismissed due to THI's lack of standing and the mootness of the case following Zuniga's death, as THI could not acquire a necessary social security number for Zuniga posthumously (paras 1, 3-8).

Procedural History

• District Court of Santa Fe County, Barbara J. Vigil, District Judge: Dismissed THI's appeal based on lack of standing and mootness due to Zuniga's death (para 1).

Parties' Submissions

• Petitioner-Appellant (THI): Argued that it had the right to appeal the denial of Medicaid assistance on behalf of Zuniga, based on an agreement signed by Zuniga's daughter, and that Zuniga had irrevocably assigned his right to make claims for Medicaid assistance to THI (paras 2-3, 7).
• Respondent-Appellee (HSD): Contended that THI, as a healthcare provider, had no right to a hearing to assert Zuniga's rights and that the case was moot due to Zuniga's death, emphasizing that THI could not secure a valid social security number for Zuniga, which was necessary for establishing his eligibility (paras 4, 6-8, 10).

Legal Issues

• Whether THI had standing to appeal the denial of Medicaid assistance on behalf of Zuniga.
• Whether the case was moot due to Zuniga's death and the inability to secure a necessary social security number for him posthumously.

Disposition

• The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's decision to dismiss THI's appeal based on lack of standing and mootness (para 13).

Reasons

• RODERICK T. KENNEDY, Chief Judge (with MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judge, and TIMOTHY L. GARCIA, Judge concurring): The court found that THI lacked standing as the rights to a hearing and appeal of HSD’s decision belonged to the Medicaid recipient, Zuniga, and were not transferable or assignable. The court also determined the case was moot because THI could not secure a valid social security number for Zuniga posthumously, a requirement for establishing Medicaid eligibility. The court briefly addressed and dismissed HSD's initial rejection based on regulation 8.353.2.9 NMAC as not material to the determination of Zuniga’s representative's ability to seek a hearing to assert Zuniga’s rights (paras 8-12).