U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury Votes To Expand Opioid, Behavioral Health, Substance Use Programs
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As New Mexico communities face intersecting opioid, mental health, and substance use crises, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass critical legislation expanding over 30 programs that collectively support opioid response, mental health care, and substance use disorder prevention across the nation.
Statewide, just 12% of New Mexicans have access to behavioral health services.
Rep. Stansbury also is working on a legislative framework to bring a more holistic approach to addressing public safety, behavioral health, Read More
June Is Recognized As National PTST Month
BJA News:
June is recognized as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) month, and June 27 was National PTSD Awareness Day.
PTSD has a profound effect on the lives of those who suffer from it. The United States Senate established PTSD Awareness Day in 2010 as a day of awareness, and a tribute to Army Staff Sergeant Joe Biel of the North Dakota National Guard.
According to PTSD United, 20 percent of adults in the United States who have experienced a traumatic event suffer from PTSD.
Visit the Mental Health topic page for information about Bureau of Justice Assistance programs and resources that focus Read More
New Mexico Initiative Will Lower Small Business Health Insurance Premiums By 10 Percent Beginning July 1
New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance Russell Toal announced that a new initiative will reduce small business health insurance premiums by 10 percent beginning July 1.
“Small businesses are the backbone of New Mexico’s economy,” Superintendent Toal said. “This premium relief comes at a critical moment in our state’s economic recovery. I applaud Governor Lujan Grisham and the Legislature for prioritizing assistance to small businesses.”
The Small Business Health Insurance Premium Relief Initiative, which is available to businesses with 50 or fewer employees that offer health Read More
Chart 656: Los Alamos Test Positivity Rate At All Time High
This chart shows the test positivity rate versus date in Los Alamos. The test positivity rate is above 20 percent for the first time. Since the start of the pandemic, 5.8 percent of about 62,000 COVID-19 tests in the county were positive. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimLos Alamos COVID Impact: 97 New Cases For Week Ending June 27, 2022
COVID-19 statistics for the week ending June 27, 2022 impacting Los Alamos County:
-
463 tests
- 97 diagnoses (71 in Los Alamos, 25 in White Rock)
- 0 deaths
Source: New Mexico Department of Health. By Eli Ben-Naim.
Governor Takes Action To Safeguard Abortion Access, Protect New Mexico Health Care Providers
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order today protecting access to reproductive health care services in New Mexico, protecting medical providers from attempts at legal retribution and establishing that New Mexico will not entertain extradition attempts from other states relating to receiving or performing reproductive services.
“Today we have once again declared that we will take every available action to protect the rights and access to health care of anyone in New Mexico,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. Read More
Rep. Leger Fernández Applauds Plan To Keep Veterans Health Clinics Open In Northern New Mexico
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández issued the following statement after U.S. Senators announced that they will not move forward with the AIR Commission process.
This will effectively prevent the closure of the Española, Gallup, Las Vegas and Raton veterans health clinics:
“Over the last few months, I listened to veterans in Raton, Las Vegas, Española, and Gallup describe how the VA community health clinics provided them access to essential care. I carried their stories and worries about losing these clinics to my colleagues Read More
Balderas Joins $230M Settlement Against Pharmaceutical Company Over Allegations Of Medicaid Fraud
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas
From the Office of the Attorney General:
ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announces that New Mexico has joined with 49 other states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the federal government to settle allegations of fraud against Mallinckrodt ARD, LLC (formerly known as Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), a U.S. subsidiary of the Irish pharmaceutical company Mallinckrodt plc (Mallinckrodt), which sells and markets pharmaceutical products throughout the nation.
The total value of the settlement is $233,707,865.18, plus interest, Read More
Gruninger: What It’s Like To Work One-To-One With A Yoga Therapist
Jacci Gruninger, right, works with a client. Courtesy photo
By JACCI GRUNUNDER, MS, C-IAYT, ERYT500
Los Alamos
Working one-to-one with a yoga therapist is somewhat like working with a personal trainer who has more than 800-hours of training in yogic techniques and wellness and modern healing modalities.
Yoga Therapy can help improve your function, health and sense of wellbeing by:
- Building resiliency, stability and strength in body and mind;
- Creating greater fluidity in how you move and think; and
- Enhancing your sense of wellbeing and how you show up in the world.
Different from a yoga class, Read More
NACo: Metropolitan County Leaders To Provide Update On American Rescue Plan & Pandemic Response
LUCC Chair John O’Grady
NACo News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Elected leaders from major urban counties with over 4.2 million residents this week outlined how they are deploying resources from the American Rescue Plan to respond to urgent community needs.
Leaders of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) hosted a Capitol Hill briefing to describe how they are investing in pandemic recovery, including efforts to address the nation’s growing mental health and homelessness crises.
“Counties are leading our nation’s recovery through strategic investments Read More
Leonard: Part 3-Hack Monkey Mind; Transform Your Life
Doctor of Chiropractic
Los Alamos
Do you ever wonder why you keep getting stuck in certain aspects of your life? Could it be that your monkey mind, aka subconscious, aka negative file folders are the cause?
Welcome to part three and the conclusion of my series on creating personal transformation in any area of your life. This three-part series began with understanding how the subconscious works to block us, followed by last week’s article on becoming aware of subconscious patterns in order to start changing them. Today we arrive at the solutions. Where the challenge lies, is not Read More
Congressional Delegation Urges Secretary McDonough To Visit New Mexico Veteran Health Clinics
NM Congressional Delegation News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary McDonough urging the Secretary to visit the Las Vegas or Raton veteran health clinics, two of the four clinics that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recommended for closure.
All four of the veteran health clinics recommended for closure in New Mexico are in rural parts of the state. The delegation wrote to Secretary Read More
Chart 655: COVID Testing In Los Alamos County Remains Below State Average
This chart shows the cumulative number of tests, per capita, since the pandemic started by county. Los Alamos County and the statewide average are highlighted. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-Naim Read More
Ronchetti On Supreme Court’s Roe V. Wade Decision
Gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti
From the Mark Ronchetti for Governor Campaign:
ALBUQUERQUE — Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti released the following statement regarding Friday’s Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision.
“(Friday’s) Court ruling paves the way for a measured dialogue on the issue of abortion that will save lives and should result in policies that are more mainstream and reflect our shared values.
“The Governor has taken an extreme position on abortion, out of step with most New Mexicans, in believing that abortion should be unrestricted – all Read More
Balderas Secures Guilty Pleas Against ‘Vampire Facial’ Spa Owner Who Performed Unlicensed Medical Procedures On Individuals Who Later Contracted HIV
AG News:
ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Friday that Maria de Lourdes Ramos de Ruiz, a former Albuquerque spa owner who conducted dangerous, unlicensed medical procedures on members of the general public, has pled guilty to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license.
Ramos de Ruiz was indicted by a Bernalillo County grand jury in April 2021 for performing ‘vampire facials’ and other unlicensed medical procedures on at least two individuals who later contracted HIV.
Ruiz faces up to 7.5 years in prison.
“This is a warning to those who place Read More
County Hosts Public Meeting On COVID Surge Situation
B
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County experienced a surge in reported COVID-19 cases this month and while the reasons behind this surge remain a mystery, the number of cases seem to be decreasing, retired epidemiologist Dr. Will Athas said during a virtual community briefing Thursday.
Following a similar format to the Cerro Pelado Fire public meetings, Los Alamos County hosted the virtual meeting which, in addition to Athas, featured Children’s Clinic’s Dr. Ben Neal, Los Alamos Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Guy, Los Alamos Read More
County Shares Details For Scheduling Appointments For June 27 COVID-19 Vaccine/Booster Clinic
COUNTY News:
It’s not too late to schedule an appointment for the vaccine/booster clinic scheduled for 3-7 p.m. Monday, June 27, according to Los Alamos County officials.
The event is hosted by Los Alamos County and Premier Medical Group at First Baptist Church of Los Alamos, 2200 Diamond Drive. Eligible recipients, including children as young as five can receive a vaccine and/or booster of Pfizer, Pfizer 5-11, or Moderna.
Interested individuals can schedule an appointment.
Instructions on how to schedule an appointment are available on the Los Alamos County website or call the NM Department Read More
LAMC Issues 2021 Community Benefit Report
LAMC News:
Report outlines hospital’s continued impact on health and well-being of Los Alamos
Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) today issued its community benefit report for the 2021 calendar year.
This yearly report outlines specific ways the hospital is positively contributing to Los Alamos and spotlights the various ways it is working to support the health and well-being of the community it calls home – an investment which has become increasingly essential in recent years.
“Our mission of Making Communities Healthier has always been a fundamental part of succeeding as a community leader Read More
Leger Fernández Passes Bill To Support Programs To Prevent Alcohol And Substance Use On College Campuses
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thursday, the House of Representatives passed U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández’s bipartisan Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act (H.R. 6493).
The bill was introduced in January alongside Representatives Dusty Johnson (SD-At Large), David Trone (MD-06), Michael Guest (MS-03), Chris Pappas (NH-01), John Joyce (PA-13), and Lucy McBath (GA-06).
This bill helps higher education institutions develop prevention and recovery programs to prevent alcohol and substance use and support students with substance Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham On Overturning Roe V. Wade
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement this morning upon the release of the U.S. Supreme Court opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion:
“The moment we have long dreaded has arrived, and our nation will be the worse for it. With this ruling, the Supreme Court has unilaterally thrown out 50 years of judicial precedent and subverted the will of millions of Americans who believe in a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her body. Read More
