New Mexico Statutes Chapter 27. Public Assistance § 27-7-21. Nature of protective services; costs

A. Protective services are short-term services furnished by the department or under arrangement through the department to an incapacitated or protected adult who has been abused, neglected or exploited and with the adult's consent or appropriate legal authority.

B. The protective services furnished in a protective services system may include social, psychiatric, health, legal and other services provided on a short-term basis that, if appropriate, transition to other ongoing or long-term services outside the protective services system and that detect, correct or eliminate abuse, neglect or exploitation consistent with the Adult Protective Services Act. The adult protective services system established by the department may include outreach, public information and education, prevention programs, referral for health or legal services and other activities consistent with the Adult Protective Services Act.

C. The costs of providing protective services shall be borne by the department or other appropriate agency, unless the adult agrees to pay for them or a court authorizes the provider or the department or other agency to receive reasonable reimbursement from the adult's assets after a finding that the adult is financially able to make payment. As appropriate and as permitted by law, the department may bill the adult or a third party to receive reasonable reimbursement for protective services rendered.