The North Side mental health and addiction care facility Laurel Ridge Treatment Center in San Antonio has been officially cut off from receiving payments from Medicare and Medicaid, effective Thursday. The change leaves many patients searching for alternative care options. Ann Marie Ivey, who works in mental health care at another San Antonio-area facility, appeared at Laurel Ridge on Thursday morning to offer assistance to displaced patients. “To make sure that they have a safe place. They’re not going to end up in a hospital,” Ivey told news reporters. However, she reported feeling discouraged by the response from facility staff.
The loss of Medicare and Medicaid privileges represents only part of ongoing troubles at Laurel Ridge. A state investigation last November found numerous safety violations at the facility located near Loop 1604 and Redland Road. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services cited the facility was out of compliance with patient safety standards in its decision to ban Laurel Ridge. In response to the loss of these crucial payment sources, Laurel Ridge confirmed plans to lay off nearly 650 employees (648), with layoffs taking effect on June 26.
Leadership changes accompanied the operational crisis. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission reported on Thursday night that Chief Executive Officer Ashley Sacriste had been terminated, with her employment ending on April 29. The state agency continues working with federal partners to maintain patient continuity of care at Laurel Ridge Treatment Center and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. According to Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison, president and CEO of The Center for Health Care Services, the situation at Laurel Ridge would eliminate 330 beds available for mental health inpatient treatment and worsen the current shortage in the San Antonio region’s mental health care capacity.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/04/30/medicare-medicaid-privileges-officially-end-at-laurel-ridge-treatment-center/