The message funeral homes are receiving when attempting to order death certificates online for families of decedents. Screenshot/LADP
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
The New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records is experiencing a breakdown in the producing of death certificates since early February.
When attempting to order death certificates online for families of decedents, funeral homes encounter a message stating: Please do not place death certificate orders until further notice. Our vendor is working on the problem and expects to have a resolution soon.
This delay is causing family members problems with closing accounts such as cell phones contracts, bank accounts, filing for life insurance and other necessary tasks that occur following the death of a loved one.
After being notified by readers effected by this issue, the Los Alamos Daily Post contacted the New Mexico Department of Health, which oversees the New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records.
Media & Social Media Manager David Morgan discussed the issue today with the Post.
“The issue is that funeral directors have been unable to go online and purchase death certificates with a credit card for their customers/our constituents. The issue is with the vendor, VitalChek, and this is occurring in other states as well, such as Arizona and New York,” Morgan said. “The issue was identified on Feb. 6 and the New Mexico Department of Health’s Information Technology team has been working since then with the vendor to identify a solution as soon as possible. Our Vital Records and Information Technology teams also are working with the vendor to identify a workaround to implement as soon as possible if repair of the problem is not imminent.”
UNM Health Sciences Center, where the Office of the Medical Investigator is located, is not effected by the vendor issue.
“The Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) does not issue death certificates or oversee the release of death certificates,” Public Information Officer Alex Sanchez said today.
Editor’s note: Jenn Bartram contributed to this story.
