Features

Heinrich Responds To Latest Developments On Ben Archer Health Center In Southern New Mexico Turning Away Patients Without Birth Certificates On-hand 

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

          •  “What Ben Archer was pulling at its health clinics wasn’t just wrong, it was illegal.” –Heinrich

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement today after constituents notified his office that Ben Archer Health Center was denying medical care to individuals unable to provide “proof of citizenship’:

“What Ben Archer was pulling at its health clinics wasn’t just wrong, it was illegal. I am glad they reversed course, and that they did it quickly. Let this be a lesson to all health care Read More

New Mexico Primary Care Council Meeting Feb. 27

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NMHCA News:

Notice is hereby given that the New Mexico Primary Care Council will convene for a regular meeting Thursday, Feb. 27. The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. and will be held virtually via Zoom. The public is welcome, and information about how to join the meeting is below. 

Copies of the agenda will be posted and available on the Health Care Authority’s website. Copies may also be obtained by contacting Alex Willey, Staff Manager – MAD at alexandra.willey@hca.nm.gov. An individual with a disability who needs a reader, amplifier, qualified signed language interpreter, or other form Read More

NMDOH Raises Awareness To Keep Kids’ Teeth Healthy

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NMDOH News:

SANTA FE — Throughout February, the New Mexico Department of Health’s (NMDOH) Office of Oral Health Program is raising awareness about the importance of starting healthy dental habits at an early age.

“Healthy teeth are essential to a child’s overall well-being and success in life” said Leisha D. Ortiz, Interim Director of the NMDOH Office of Oral Health. “As we celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month, we want to remind families that dental health outcomes are mainly determined by daily habits. Regular dental visits and healthy habits that begin early in life help to Read More

Chamber Business After Hours & Open House At Los Alamos Medical Center’s Endoscopy Center 1911 Central March 18

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LAMC News:’

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and a perfect opportunity to get to know the Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) Endoscopy Center in downtown Los Alamos.

Everyone is invited to attend the Chamber Business After Hours and Community Open House 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 for:

  • A tour of our Endoscopy Center;
  • An opportunity to meet providers and staff;
  • Key information on colon & rectal cancer prevention; and
  • Light refreshments.

The Endoscopy Center is at 1911 Central Ave., Suite 100, next to Aspen Copies.

More than 50,000 people die from colon cancer each year in the United Read More

NM Celebrates 20th Annual Behavioral Health Day Feb. 26

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NMHCA News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Behavioral Health Planning Council will host its 20th annual Behavioral Health Day at the State Capitol Wednesday, Feb. 26. 

This year’s theme celebrates “20 Years of Resiliency, Prevention, and Healing Together,” and highlights two decades of advocacy in mental health and substance use recovery.  

Behavioral Health Day takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda, bringing together peers, family members, advocates, providers, and policymakers to highlight the importance of mental health and substance use prevention, treatment and recovery Read More

Democratic Leaders Say Children, Youth And Families Dept. Reform, Crime To Be Priorities In Second Half Of Session

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Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, speaks at a news conference on the House floor on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, to discuss the progress lawmakers have made in addressing crime and behavioral health. Nathan Brown/The New Mexican

Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, speaks at a news conference on the House floor on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, to discuss the progress lawmakers have made in addressing crime and behavioral health. Nathan Brown/The New Mexican

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, speaks at a news conference on the House floor on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, to discuss the Read More

Public Safety, Behavioral Health Bills Pass Senate, House

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Sen. Joseph Cervantes

By ESTEBAN CANDELARIA and NATHAN BROWN
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Bills to crack down on crime and improve New Mexico’s behavioral health system took major steps forward Friday and may reach the governor’s desk soon.

House Bill 8, which would reform criminal competency laws as well as cracking down on shooting threats, fentanyl trafficking and drunken driving, passed the Senate 38-3 Friday evening after extensive debate. The bill needs to go back to the House to concur with or reject some amendments made in the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week and on the Senate Read More

Baby Bonds A Crucial Investment In New Mexico’s Health

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By Dr. Samuel Swift, MPH, PhD

As an assistant professor teaching public health, I begin every class by asking my students what they believe is the biggest public health problem in New Mexico. Semester after semester, the most common answer I get is “poverty”.

Our students know intuitively what over a century of epidemiological research has shown, which is that wealth creates health.

New Mexicans who have more educational and economic opportunities live longer lives, are more able to avoid preventable diseases, and contribute more to our community. Unfortunately, many of our young adults Read More

Senate Bill 176 To Reform New Mexico’s Medical Malpractice Law Gains 20 Bipartisan Sponsors

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From Think New Mexico:

Senate Bill 176, which proposes three patient-centered reforms to New Mexico’s medical malpractice law, continues to gather momentum and has now picked up 20 bipartisan sponsors:

Democratic Sponsors of SB 176

  • Sen. Martin Hickey (D-Abq)
  • Sen. George Muñoz (D-Gallup)
  • Sen. Bobby Gonzales (D-Taos)
  • Sen. Liz Stefanics (D-Santa Fe)
  • Rep. Anita Gonzales (D-Las Vegas)
  • Rep. D. Wonda Johnson (D-Rehoboth)
  • Rep. Patricia Lundstrom (D-Gallup)
  • Rep. Marian Matthews (D-Abq)
  • Rep. Joseph Sanchez (D-Alcalde)
  • Rep. Sarah Silva (D-Las Cruces)

Republican Sponsors of SB 176

  • Sen. Pat Woods
Read More

LAMC Continues To Seek Applicants For Patient Representative Position On Hospital Board Of Trustees

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LAMC News:

Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) continues to seek individuals who have received care at the hospital within the last year to apply for a three-year term on the hospital’s Board of Trustees as Patient Representative. This individual will play a key role as the patient “voice” advocate for the Board.

The Board is a collection of medical providers, community members and hospital administrators that meets in the evening every month at the hospital.

Among the responsibilities for the Patient Representative:

  • Help identify what our hospital is doing well and also help pinpoint areas
Read More