U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation To Fast-Track Veterans Access To Health Care Benefits
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act, legislation to give combat veterans the option to enroll in their health care benefits program before officially transitioning out of active duty.
The bill would create an opt-in program to allow transitioning servicemembers to access Veterans Affairs (VA) health care services their first day as a civilian. Currently, transitioning service members must wait until they have left service and received their official separation paperwork to apply for Veterans Health Read More
April Is National Stress Awareness Month … Helpful Tips For Caregivers Of Loved Ones Living With Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Association News:
The physical, emotional and financial implications of stress are universal, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) cites those as it observes April as National Stress Awareness Month.
The sources of stress are as diverse as the people who undergo it, but one group that experiences stress day after day, occasionally for as long as 20 years, are the caregivers for people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
More than 11 million Americans (3.3% of the total population), including 67,000 New Mexicans, are currently serving as volunteer caregivers for loved ones Read More
SFCC: ECCOE On Free Virtual Conference On Importance Of Play In Early Childhood Development April 22-26
Courtesy/SFCC
SFCC News:
SANTA FE — Santa Fe Community College’s Early Childhood Center of Excellence announces First Born® & More and the Institute for Innovative Family Programs (IIFP) are hosting the Third Annual First Born® & More Home Visiting Symposium– a free, virtual conference on the importance of play in early childhood development specifically created for home visitors. Early childhood workers and parents of young children are encouraged to attend.
There will be live Spanish interpretation at all events.
Sessions are 12-1 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, April Read More
Dannemann: A Medical Cost You Didn’t Know About
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Most of us have never heard of independent medical examinations. We might need to know a little more about them.
An independent medical examination (IME) is an exam performed when there is litigation related to a sick or injured person’s medical condition that requires more than the opinion of the treating physician. A doctor is hired – or, if necessary, a few doctors with different specialties – to give an unbiased opinion.
New Mexico workers’ compensation has an unusual system for IMEs. If the parties can’t agree to an IME Read More
Secretary Schroer To Embark On Statewide Tour To Promote Department On Aging Initiatives
Cabinet Secretary Jen Paul Schroer
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — This spring, New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) Cabinet Secretary Jen Paul Schroer will embark on the first leg of a statewide tour. This tour aims to highlight the department’s initiatives, engage directly with communities, and foster dialogue around aging-related issues across New Mexico.
“I am thrilled to embark on this journey across our state, engaging directly with the communities that our department serves,” Secretary Schroer said. “As New Mexico’s aging population continues to increase, it is Read More
LAMC CEO Tracie Stratton Attends ‘Plática On Latino Access To Rural Healthcare’ Hosted By Rep. Leger Fernandez
Los Alamos Medical Center CEO Tracie Stratton, right, attended the ‘Plática On Latino Access To Rural Healthcare’ hosted by U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, left, April 4 in Albuquerque. The event was part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus On The Road series and also featured United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. Courtesy photo
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, left, and United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, center, at the ‘Plática On Latino Access To Rural Healthcare’ April 4 in Albuquerque. Los Alamos Medical Center CEO Read More
Weaving Colors: Autism & Indigenous Community April 17
Catch Of The Week: Change Healthcare Ransomware Part 2
By REBECCA RUTHERFORD
For the Los Alamos Daily Post
After suffering a huge ransomware attack in February, Change Healthcare has been hit again, by yet another ransomware attack. Yikes!
The attacker this time is RansomHub, a fairly new player to the game, having just popped up a few months ago. On Monday they claimed to have stolen over 4 TB of data from Change Healthcare, and are threatening to sell it to the highest bidder if they don’t receive payment within 12 days.
According to an article by The Register:
“Change Healthcare and United Health you have one chance in protecting your clients data,” Read More
Syzygy & Friends Live In Concert To Benefit Friend April 13
Heather McCulloch and Syzygy band member Michelangelo Lobato. Courtesy photo
Community News:
- Benefit concert to raise money to help longtime resident Heather McCulloch with medical bills
The members of Syzygy, a Los Alamos band invite you to join them and guest performers including members of the band Heather and the Bad Breaks, the Atomic Follies Cabaret and other guest musicians for a night of music and dancing beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Los Alamos Sheriff’s Posse Lodge. This event is open to all ages.
This performance is to raise money for Heather McCulloch, a longtime Los Alamos Read More
Canes & Canines Support Group To Meet April 10
Canes & Canines News:
The Canes & Canines Visually Impaired Support Group is scheduled to meet 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 at the Betty Ehart Senior Center, 1101 Bathtub Row.
The topic for this meeting is “It’s all about those Apps” and the meeting is open to all who are interested in attending.
For more information, contact Janet Montoya at 505.672.9626. Read More
New Mexico Environment Department Enforcement Watch Alert: 298 Enforcement Actions Initiated, 112 Resolved In March 2024
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) released updates for the month of March 2024 on the Enforcement Watch.
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.
In the month of March, 298 new entries were added to the Active Matters listing Read More
Heinrich, Casey Introduce Legislation To Make More Infant Formula In America, Help Prevent Future Shortages
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced the Infant Formula Made in America Act, which creates a new tax credit program to support new or expanding small American infant formula producers.
More than two years after a massive infant formula recall impacted families across the nation, Heinrich and Casey are taking action to increase domestic formula production so that parents are Read More
Heinrich, Graham, DeLauro Urge USDA To Include Vital Malnutrition Treatments In International Food Aid Program
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Thursday, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure nutritional needs are met for those suffering from the most severe forms of hunger by including Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), a proven treatment for malnutrition, in its international food assistance program.
Currently, RUTFs do not qualify as an eligible commodity for purchase and donation in the international Read More
New Mexico Environment Department Sampling Finds Camino Real Regional Utility Authority Exceeds Arsenic Drinking Water Standard
NMED News:
DOÑA ANA COUNTY — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Drinking Water Bureau (DWB), on March 15, 2024, conducted unannounced arsenic sampling at the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) in Doña Ana County.
While CRRUA has been ordered to comply with drinking water regulations, the Department is also taking independent action including conducting unannounced sampling to assure the health and safety of residents.
March 26, 2024, NMED DWB received the results from the laboratory. Of the 10 drinking water samples collected and analyzed, nine of the ten samples Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Expand Capacity For Abortion Services In New Mexico
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Senate colleagues to introduce the Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services (ACCESS) Act.
This legislation would establish a federal grant program for health care organizations to expand their capacity to provide abortion services and additional reproductive care in New Mexico and other states where it remains legal.
Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, nearly half of all U.S. states have adopted or attempted Read More
Heinrich, Luján Urge Senate Leadership To Act Immediately To Lower Prescription Drug Costs
SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter to Senate leadership, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) urged Senate leadership for immediate action on reforming pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in an effort to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
“Immediate action is needed to address these harmful practices by PBMs. Americans deserve and expect protection from inflated prescription drug costs, forced pharmacy closures, formulary manipulation, and barriers to their pharmacy of choice that result from harmful PBM tactics. We cannot sit idly by while patients Read More
TriState CareFlight Emergency Air Medical In Santa Fe And Taos Now Carry Life-Saving Whole Blood Onboard Flights
TriState CareFlight in Santa Fe and Taos now carry and can administer whole blood onboard every air medical transport. Courtesy/TriState CareFlight
AIR METHODS News:
SANTA FE — The TriState CareFlight bases in Santa Fe and Taos have announced they now carry and can administer whole blood onboard every air medical transport. Having whole blood aboard their helicopters allows their industry-leading trauma clinicians to provide additional life-saving care when every minute counts.
“The transition from packed red blood cells and plasma to whole blood raises the bar in New Mexico for Read More
County Social Services Manager To Present Comprehensive Health Plan Interim Report To Council Tuesday
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Social Services Manager Jessica Strong will present an interim report on the status of the Comprehensive Health Plan at Tuesday’s Council meeting at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave.
The Los Alamos County Council tasked the Los Alamos County Health Council in 2022 to develop a health plan in accordance with New Mexico legislation that would monitor local health and health care, advise on policies that affect health care, facilitate communication, and identify resources to improve health.
At the March 26 Council meeting, Strong will share the findings Read More
NM Cannabis Control Division Recalls Concentrates Sold At Got Greens, Issues Consumer Health, Safety Advisory
NMRLD News:
SANTA FE — The Cannabis Control Division (CCD) of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department is issuing a consumer health and safety advisory due to the identification of contaminated cannabis concentrates (shatter, dabs, wax, etc.) that tested positive for a prohibited pesticide.
Products subject to this recall were sold to consumers between Jan. 31, 2023, and Feb. 15, 2024, at Got Greens located at 10200 Corrales Rd Ste E2, Albuquerque, NM 87114. The concentrates were sold under the names: Purple Kush Live Sugar, Cali Dream Live Sugar, Jigglers Live Diamonds, and OG Read More
Heinrich Pushes For Action To Tackle Fentanyl Crisis
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friday U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) held a press conference with New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, first responders, law enforcement, and a New Mexico resident personally impacted by the fentanyl crisis to highlight the urgent need for action and discuss efforts happening at all levels of government to keep families safe and get deadly fentanyl out of our communities.
Heinrich is leading comprehensive efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic and protect New Mexico communities from fentanyl. Most recently, as Read More
