Luján, Murphy, Smith Reintroduce Legislation Giving Labor Dept. More Tools To Enforce Mental Health Parity Laws
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, along with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) reintroduced the Parity Enforcement Act, legislation to hold insurance companies accountable and give the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) the authority to assess civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements.
This new authority would incentivize compliance and strengthen the protections of the Mental Read More
Staff Honors Nancy Savoia On Her Retirement
Nancy Savoia, DC. Courtesy photo
From Los Alamos Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center Staff:
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Doctor Nancy Savoia, DC from her role at Los Alamos Chiropractic Center. After years of dedicated service, care, and expertise, Nancy will be stepping away to enjoy the next chapter of her life.
Nancy has been an integral part of our team, bringing not only her skill and knowledge but also a warm and compassionate presence to everyone she treated. Her commitment to the well-being of our patients has been unparalleled, and her efforts have positively Read More
New Mexico Nearing 2025 Climate Goals
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has released two comprehensive reports analyzing greenhouse gas emissions across the state,“ providing the most detailed and accurate inventory of New Mexico’s emissions to date”.
Findings confirm that New Mexico is making significant progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
The state is projected to achieve a 29% reduction in emissions by 2025 compared to 2005 levels, keeping on track to meet Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s climate goals.
The reports, developed by Eastern Research Group (ERG) and Energy and Environmental Read More
Isotopes Produced At LANL Are ‘Saving Lives, Advancing Cutting-Edge Research, Keeping Nation Safe’
Inside a shielded chamber, robotic arms are used to handle radioactive medical isotopes. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
What’s the difference between sodium-22 and sodium-23?
One is edible (sodium-23) and the other is radioactive. Such differences are the superpowers of isotopes—variants of an element that have the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons. Chemical properties of isotopes of the same element are generally similar, but their physical properties can vary.
Some isotopes, such as sodium-23, occur naturally, but others are created using nuclear reactors or accelerators. Read More
Senators Luján And Boozman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Increase Organ Donations And Save Lives
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friday, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act to expand support for more living donors by allowing more donors compensation to cover wages, travel, child care and caregiver expenses associated with donation.
Each day, 17 Americans die while waiting for an organ transplant, with many of these patients suffering from kidney failure and undergoing costly and painful dialysis treatments.
Dialysis alone costs Medicare more than $50 billion annually. Under the current law, the Living Read More
LAMC Employee S.T.A.R. Committee Donates To LA Cares
Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) team members have caring hearts not only for patients, but for the community. Hospital leadership and the Employee S.T.A.R. Committee today welcomed LA Cares as they picked up a table full of items generously donated by LAMC staff over the last few weeks. Supporting this organization aligns with the hospital’s mission of making communities healthier, as the food pantry provides food for more than 100 households in Los Alamos and White Rock every month. Courtesy/LAMC
From left, Daniel Astorga, Cassandra Robinson, LA Cares President Lyn Haval, LA Cares Warehouse Read More
New Documents On Disapproval, Drilling Work Plan for Chromium Groundwater Project… Added To LANL Electronic Public Reading Room
LANL News:
Per regulatory requirements, new documents have been added to the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract Electronic Public Reading Room.
All legacy cleanup documents required to be posted after April 30, 2018, are available on the site linked above.
For legacy cleanup documents that were posted prior to April 30, 2018, visit the LANL electronic public reading room.
- Disapproval, Drilling Work Plan for Chromium Groundwater Project Regional Aquifer Monitoring Well R-73R
https://ext.em-la.doe.gov/GovFTPFiles/api/GetFiles/GetFile?fileName=EMID-703489_NMED_Disapprove_R-73r_DWP_121024.pdf
NMDOH: New Online Tool Combats Alcohol Misuse
NMDOH News:
SANTA FE — State releases ePrevention, a new online screening and intervention tool to combat alcohol misuse in New Mexico.
ePrevention leverages the power of E-SBIRT (Electronic Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment), an evidence-based, public health approach that empowers individuals to assess their alcohol consumption, receive personalized feedback and access necessary support services.
“Alcohol misuse is a major contributor to injuries and deaths in New Mexico,” says Rebecca Neudecker, the Section Manager for the Office of Alcohol Read More
Retirement Tribute To Beloved LAVNS RN Julie Banaszek
Julie Banaszek, RN, left, of Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service meets with a patient. Banaszek is retiring from LAVNS after many years of service. Courtesy/LAVNS
By JACK ALLISON
Executive Director
Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Julie Banaszek, RN, from her role at Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service (LAVNS) after an incredible journey spanning 30 non-consecutive years. As executive director, I have the distinct honor of celebrating Julie’s remarkable contributions to our organization and the community we serve.
Julie joined Read More
SFCC & NMDOH Offering Free Flu And COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic In Santa Fe Wednesday Dec. 11
SFCC News:
Santa Fe Community College in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Health is offering a free Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for anyone 6 months old or older.
The clinic runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or while supplies last) Wednesday, Dec. 11 in the Jemez Rooms at SFCC, 6401 Richards Ave., in Santa Fe.
Children under 18 must have a parent or guardian present to provide consent for vaccination.
No appointment is necessary. If you have insurance, please bring your insurance card. Insurance, however, is not required.
Direct questions to 505.428.1000. Read More
New Mexico Environment Dept. Fines Natural Gas Firm Targa Northern Delaware $47.8 Million For Harmful Emissions
NMED General Counsel Zachary Ogaz
NMED News:
-
-
-
-
- Company directed to cease polluting and pay civil penalty
-
-
-
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) initiated an enforcement action Friday, Dec. 6, against Targa Northern Delaware, LLC, a subsidiary of Houston, Texas-based natural gas firm Targa Resources Corp., for emission releases far greater than permitted limits at its Red Hills Gas Processing Plant near Jal in Lea County.
The enforcement action cites Targa for alleged violations of state rules including significant excess emissions of regulated air pollutants, late reporting, Read More
Los Alamos Researchers Develop Mathematical Models That Tackle COVID-19 Infection Dynamics
Mathematical modeling helps understand the kinetics of Covid-19 infection, potentially aiding in drug and therapeutic development. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
- Research key to understanding impact of drugs and other interventions
Even years after the emergence of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the workings of SARS-CoV-2 infection inside the human body, including the early activity of the virus and the role of the body’s immune response, has proved difficult to precisely ascertain.
Using data from a human challenge study, researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have developed Read More
Interfaith Coalition On Homelessness Aiding The Unhoused
Members of the Interfaith Coalition on Homelessness meeting Dec. 3 at the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Homelessness is a chronic issue throughout Northern New Mexico; no one is immune from it. Take for instance, Española, which is grappling with how to address homeless encampments and Los Alamos is experiencing its own homeless individuals.
In response, an Interfaith Coalition on Homelessness was created to offer remedies to those who find themselves without a home.
According Read More
State Environment Enforcement Watch Alert: 164 Actions Initiated; 59 Resolved In November 2024
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) today released Enforcement Watch updates for the month of November 2024. The Enforcement Watch is a listing of all active and resolved enforcement cases.
Active cases involve an alleged violation of a regulation, rule, permit, license, etc. Resolved cases are those that were adjudicated in court of law or administratively resolved. The Enforcement Watch also provides tools for the public to report alleged environmental or workplace safety violations.
“Improper disposal of solid waste is a significant problem that impacts Read More
Christina Campos Joins ALTSD Policy Advisory Council
Christina Campos
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) is excited to announce the appointment of Christina Campos as a new member of the ALTSD Policy Advisory Committee (PAC).
With more than three decades of experience in healthcare administration, Campos will bring valuable experience to further the department’s mission of providing accessible and integrated services to older and disabled adults.
“Christina has a remarkable track record of addressing healthcare disparities and advancing innovative solutions for underserved communities,” Read More
Op-Ed: We Need Doctors. Texas Has Them.
By ELIZABETH HELLER ALLEN
Santa Fe
-
-
-
-
- They need a safe place to practice medicine. We just need to get ‘em here.
-
-
-
For years, New Mexico has been seriously short of virtually all doctors: primary care, pediatricians, dentists, eye doctors, and other specialists … and all the people who help them take care of patients. It can take months to see a specialist and weeks to see a primary care physician, if you can find one. We are short almost 13,000 health care workers to serve our 2.1 million residents. That includes every kind of healthcare worker like EMTs, pharmacists and physical therapists as well as Read More
Heinrich Cosponsors Bill To Make Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits Permanent, Lower Costs For Families
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the Health Care Affordability Act, legislation to make permanent the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits for Health Insurance Marketplace coverage as extended through the Inflation Reduction Act.
The enhanced premium tax credits, which have made health care more affordable and accessible for thousands of New Mexicans, are currently set to expire at the end of 2025. If these credits expire, working families will see a sudden increase in their health insurance Read More
New Docs Added To LANL Electronic Public Reading Room
LANL News:
Per regulatory requirements, this email is to notify the public that the following documents have been added to the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Electronic Reading Room.
The document(s) have been submitted to fulfill one or more requirements of the Los Alamos National Laboratory
These documents and many others may be viewed at LANL’s Electronic Public Reading Room. Read More
Feldenkrais Los Alamos Aims To Enhance Quality Of Life
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
C’YA
Sometimes life hurts, by that I mean living life and the physical aches and pains that come with it.
When Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA) launched its suicide prevention programs, several local businesses stepped up to donate to make it happen. The Los Alamos Daily Post allowed C’YA to write about each organization as a tribute to small businesses.
One of those businesses was Feldenkrais Los Alamos and Judith Hoffman is the owner. I believe to understand we should start with the things that this method is not, to open the door to explain what Read More
Stansbury Visits State Of The Heart Recovery Center
Rep. Melanie Stansbury, left, speaks with members Wednesday at State of the Heart Recovery Center. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) toured State of the Heart Recovery Center, a nonprofit focused on treating substance abuse, and spoke on the importance of addressing the addiction crisis in New Mexico.
“Communities in New Mexico are suffering at the hands of addiction,” Rep. Stansbury said. “It’s my duty as a Member of Congress to help address this, and that is why I am committed to working on the federal level as well as partnering with Read More
