New Mexico Higher Education Department Offering $14.6 Million In Debt Relief For Health Care Workers
NMHED Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez
NMHED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) is encouraging licensed health care professionals working in New Mexico to apply for its Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, which provides eligible applicants with up to $25,000 in student loan forgiveness.
Those interested in applying can do so here via the New Mexico Higher Education Department’s website until 5 p.m. May 1.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham approved $14.6 million for the program this year. The funding could support more than 700 working health professionals Read More
House Committee Advances SCREENS For Cancer Act
Molly Guthrie
Healthcare News:
Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, has commended members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for passing the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act, an important step in the legislation becoming law.
Approved by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in December 2023, the legislation awaits approval by the full U.S. Senate and House, along with President Joe Biden’s signature, to become law.
The SCREENS for Cancer Read More
Los Alamos Public Schools Prevention Program Highlights 2024 National Drugs And Alcohol Facts Week
LAPS News:
What is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®?
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®, or NDAFW, is an annual, week-long, health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. It provides an opportunity to bring together scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners to help advance the science and address youth drug and alcohol use in communities and nationwide.
It was launched in 2010 by scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to stimulate educational events in communities so teens Read More
Rep. Melanie Stansbury Co-Leads Bill To Help Seniors
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and Carol Miller (W.V.-01), introduced the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act or SAFE Act.
This bill permits occupational and physical therapists to administer falls risks assessments for seniors as part of their Medicare Annual Wellness benefit. The bill will also require Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress on the number of falls experienced by our seniors and the number of seniors who received treatment for Read More
Catch Of The Week: United Healthcare Cyber Attack
By REBECCA RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos
For the Los Alamos Daily Post
Could your business keep going if key services suddenly were offline, and if you were unable to get paid for your services? That would likely be problematic, right?
This is the situation faced by doctors across the nation after Optum’s Change Healthcare suffered a ransomware attack, causing them to shut down their networks on Feb. 21, 2024.
Change Healthcare is owned by UnitedHealth Group, the biggest healthcare company in the US. Change Healthcare provides payment processing, allows for checking of patient benefits, and manages Read More
New Mexico Aging And Long-Term Services Celebrates 52nd Anniversary Of Senior Nutrition Program
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — This March, the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) joins the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and senior nutrition service providers across the country to celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the national Senior Nutrition Program with the theme, “Connection in Every Bite.”
Since 1972, the Senior Nutrition Program has supported nutrition services for older adults. Funded by the Older Americans Act, local senior nutrition programs serve as hubs for adults (60 and older) to access nutritious meals and other vital services that strengthen Read More
Luján, Sanders Applaud Boehringer Ingelheim For Reducing Inhaler Costs To $35
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, applauded the announcement from Boehringer Ingelheim that it would cap patient copays for all of its inhalers at $35 starting June 1, 2024.
The company also announced that it will lower the list price of some of its inhalers.
The announcement comes on the heels of the January 8 HELP Committee investigation, led by Chairman Sanders and Sen. Luján, along with HELP Committee members Tammy Baldwin Read More
First Born Pays It Forward To Women’s Health Services
Holding copies of the health guide gifted by FBPLA to Los Alamos Women’s Health Services, from left, FBPLA Board President Karen Holmes, FBPLA Executive Director Ellen Specter, Los Alamos Women’s Health Services OBGyn Dr. Sharon Ransom and Los Alamos Women’s Health Services Medical Assistant Elisama Cano-Gutierrez. Photo by Darrylinn Tafoya/ Los Alamos Women’s Health Services
FBPLA News:
The First Born Program of Los Alamos (FBPLA) is collaborating with the Los Alamos Women’s Health Services to provide pregnant patients with a book about pelvic floor health. During a recent meeting Read More
MANNM Warns Patients Of Bogus Website
MANNM News:
Medical Associates of Northern New Mexico (MANNM) provides its patients with an online Patient Portal, where patients can access medical records, get appointment reminders, or even contact their providers and their care team.
However, MANNM would like to warn its patients of a bogus website masquerading as its Patient Portal. Do not click on the edoctorlink portal, as this is not affiliated with MANNM. Any information sent through edoctorlink will not be received by MANNM.
To access MANNM’s Patient Portal, click on MANNM’s Portal link at mannm.com or download the Healow app. Read More
Acupuncture Center Of Los Alamos: Preventative Medicine
At the Acupuncture Center of Los Alamos, owner Dr. Aimee Price, left, and Dr. Erika Bittner treat a wide variety of physical, mental and emotional ailments. Courtesy photo
Acupuncture Center Of Los Alamos News:
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical technique that is 3,000 years old. It uses very fine needles to stimulate acupuncture points within the body. The art of Acupuncture aims to recalibrate and rebalance health by promoting the smooth flow of energy. It does this by putting the body into a state of relaxation where the body is now able to heal itself.
At the Acupuncture Center of Los Read More
The Food Depot Awarded $11K Grant From Blue Cross Blue Shield Of New Mexico For Hunger Relief Programming
A client shops at Casita de Comida, The Food Depot’s no-cost market. Courtesy/Food Depot
The Food Depot News:
ALBUQUERQUE —The Food Depot announced that it recently received an $11,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico’s Blue ImpactSM initiative.
The grant will support The Food Depot’s Core Hunger Relief Programming, which increases access to healthy food and basic resources across nine counties of Northern New Mexico.
“For many years, BCBSNM has supported our vision of healthy, hunger-free communities,” The Food DepotExecutive Director Sherry Hooper said. “This Read More
Endeavor Foundation Launches National Collaborative To Address Mental Health Crisis On College Campuses
ENDEAVOR FOUNDATION News:
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NEW YORK — The Endeavor Foundation announced Monday it has launched a national collaborative to address student mental health – an issue that the U.S. Surgeon General has declared the “defining health crisis of our time”.
With the Foundation’s support, 13 liberal arts colleges, spanning the country, including St. John’s College in Santa Fe have joined forces to establish collaborative strategies to enhance student mental health and well-being. Endeavor, which has a long history of supporting Read More
Senior Activity Centers To Offer Second Matter Of Balance Class
By JACCI GRUNINGER, MS
Executive Director
LARSO
If you enjoy data, the Department of Health dashboard for 2019, showed that fall related deaths for seniors 65 and older were higher for New Mexico when compared to the rest of the nation. The information also indicated that deaths related to falls for the same age population in Los Alamos County was 14-18 percent (www.nmhealth.gov).
Falls are not an automatic, uncontrollable event because we age. There are small, easy changes that we can learn before balance becomes an issue, that can help. If you have a fear of falling, are experiencing balance Read More
Española Mayor John Ramon Vigil Announces Bold Step Toward Addressing City’s Social Issues
From the Office of the Mayor:
Española – Mayor John Ramon Vigil recently unveiled an ambitious plan to establish a new Department of Social Services in order to tackle pressing issues such as homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, and the allocation of the National Opioid Settlement funds within the City budget.
Under general direction of City Manager Eric J. Lujan, this position is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating a comprehensive range of programs and services that impact the quality of life of all City residents in areas including mental health, public health, Read More
LAMC Celebrates ‘Champions For Patient Care’
LAMC team members are recognized for being ‘Champions for Patient Care’ are treated to ice cream, kudos and prizes during a special celebration Tuesday at the medical center. Courtesy/LAMC
LAMC team members recognized for being ‘Champions for Patient Care’ at Tuesday celebration. Courtesy/LAMC
LAMC News:
Ice cream sundaes, well-deserved kudos and drawings for prizes highlighted Los Alamos Medical Center’s (LAMC) inaugural team member Core Values Champion Celebration on Tuesday afternoon – ice cream was also served to the night staff.
Each month, the hospital chooses one of its five Read More
Dr. Richard Honsinger Honored For Exemplary Contributions
Dr. Richard Honsinger
LAMCC News:
Dr. Richard Honsinger of Los Alamos Medical Care Clinic was honored on Feb. 25, 2024, at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology meeting in Washington, D.C. for exemplary contributions as an outstanding reviewer. He was one of five reviewers recognized by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.
Dr. Honsinger has conducted more than 400 reviews of research manuscripts for the major U.S. allergy and immunology journals. In November 2023, he completed his term on the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology editorial board. Read More
Ahead Of Critical RECA Vote, Luján Announces New Mexico Downwinder As Guest For State Of The Union Address
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of a Senate vote on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, as his guest for President Biden’s State of the Union address.
Last year, Sen. Luján led a bipartisan coalition of Senators to pass RECA as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – the most significant Congressional action in decades to strengthen the program. Republican leadership ultimately blocked its inclusion in the final Read More
Governor Signs Landmark Bills To Improve Healthcare Affordability And Access For New Mexicans
STATE News:
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Friday signed into law legislation that builds on the administration’s work to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for every New Mexican.
“Delivering quality healthcare to New Mexico’s population requires a tailored approach that takes into account rural communities, New Mexicans benefiting from Medicaid, and the tens of thousands of public employees in our state,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “These are bills that are going to positively impact a vast swath of New Mexicans.”
The governor signed these important Read More
DEA Arrests For Fentanyl Surpass Heroin In FY-2021
DEA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Arrests by the Drug Enforcement Administration for fentanyl offenses exceeded those for heroin offenses for the first time in fiscal year 2021, according to a new Bureau of Justice Statistics report, Heroin, Fentanyl, and Other Opioid Offenses in Federal Courts, 2021.
During FY 2021, the DEA made 3,138 arrests for fentanyl, 2,591 arrests for heroin and 676 arrests for other opioid offenses. From FY 2020 to FY 2021, there was a 36% increase in arrests made by the DEA for fentanyl and a 29% decrease in arrests for heroin.
The DEA also reported an increase (1,528 arrests, Read More
