Features

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth Tests Positive For COVID

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Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth

STATE News:

SANTA FE – New Mexico State Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.

Per state and CDC guidance and protocol, Sen. Wirth is isolating at home. According to current senate rules, Sen. Wirth may continue participating in floor sessions and committee meetings remotely.

Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla will be running the floor sessions in the senate chamber until Sen. Wirth returns.

Sen. Wirth issued the following statement:

“Thankfully, I am experiencing only mild symptoms after being fully vaccinated Read More

New Mexico Human Services Department Awards Contract To Conduent For Medicaid Management Information System

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STATE News:

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Conduent Incorporated, a global technology-led business process solutions company, has announced that it has been selected by the New Mexico Human Services Department (NMHSD) to deliver a new Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) to replace the agency’s existing system.

Conduent’s Medicaid Suite (CMdS), a modular, cloud-based technology platform, will create a seamless experience for providers and improve access for approximately one million state Medicaid members.

Conduent will manage the system implementation, and provide maintenance Read More

New Mexico Medical Society Physician Shortage Summary

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By Mihaela Bujoi, MD
President
New Mexico Medical Society

Editor’s note: New Mexico Medical Society (NMMS) Mihaela Bujoi, MD, wrote the following summary to members of the NMMS on the physicians work force shortage crisis in New Mexico and some of the steps being taken to bring awareness to that crisis.

Dear Medical Society Friends,

Over the last two weeks, the physicians work force shortage crisis has received some fantastic media coverage! Thank you to all the physicians who have written to newspapers, appeared in news reports, interviewed with editorial boards, and given background data Read More

Biden Announces End To Twin Emergency Declarations

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COUNTY News:

President Joe Biden has announced the end of the twin emergency declarations, WHO discusses the pandemic at a “transition point” and CDC launches a COVID-19 free testing locator site.

Read about these topics and get an update on the status of COVID-19 in Los Alamos County in this week’s COVID-19 Community Newsletter here. Read More

Gruninger: Retrain Posture With Gentle Somatic Movement

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Retrain your brain, keep an eye on your posture and practice repetition to improve posture. Courtesy image

By JACCI GRUNINGER, MS, C-IAYT, ERYT
Los Alamos

Poor posture is a common problem for everyone whether you work at a desk, drive a car, use computer, phone and tablet devices or just sit for long periods of time vegging out. In addition, we can add stress, injuries, athletics and more to the list. Poor posture is usually due to certain muscles being tight and our losing control over them (muscle amnesia).

In addition to repetitive movements and habits tightening muscles, as we age we also lose Read More

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Announces Legislation To Rename HSD The Health Care Authority Department

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Tuesday announced the introduction of legislation that renames the Human Services Department (HSD) as the Health Care Authority Department with the purpose of establishing a single, unified department responsible for health care purchasing, regulation, and policy.

The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics and Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson. 

“My priority continues to be to deliver high quality health care for New Mexicans at an affordable price,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “Consolidating purchasing, oversight and Read More

New Mexico House Bill 292 To Let Firefighters Use Medical Cannabis Off-Duty Gets Off To Hot Start Friday

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The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo

By DANIEL J. CHACON
The Santa Fe New Mexican

A bill to make it easier for New Mexico firefighters to use medical marijuana legally got off to a hot start Friday.

House Bill 292 would narrow the definition of “safety-sensitive position” in the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, which governs the state’s medical cannabis program.

As proposed, the definition would only include employees who are required to carry a firearm or operate a vehicle with a commercial driver’s license and “whose performance under the influence of drugs or alcohol would constitute Read More

U.S. Senators Luján, Murphy Reintroduce Legislation To Combat Public Health Misinformation

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From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), both members of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on Wednesday announced reintroduction of legislation to counter the threat that misinformation and disinformation pose to public health.

The Promoting Public Health Information Act would support efforts across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and with outside stakeholders to communicate effectively during a public health emergency and address Read More

Happy Valentine’s Day From Los Alamos Family Eyecare

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By LISA SHIN, O.D.
Los Alamos Family Eyecare

Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s a wonderful time to celebrate the people we love and cherish. Years ago, when I was single, one of my good friends invited me to a Valentine’s Dinner with her husband and her daughters. I asked, “Don’t you want to be alone with your husband on Valentine’s Day?” She answered, “You are a special friend and part of this family!” Her hospitality and thoughtfulness meant so much to me, and I’ll never forget it. So if you know someone who will be alone this Valentine’s Day, please reach out with kindness!  

We have been very busy since Read More

Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program Coming Soon To Española

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Peak Behavioral Health News:

Peak Behavioral Health is opening a new Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for patients ages 12 to 17. Peak’s PHP is for adolescents who do not require the intensity of a hospital setting but are experiencing struggles with their emotional or behavioral health.

The purpose of this program is to provide a higher level of care than traditional outpatient programming and avoid inpatient hospitalization.

“We saw a great need in this community for this level of behavioral health treatment,” Peak Chief Executive Officer Sandra Emanuel said. “Our PHP allows adolescents Read More