AMA Adopts New Public Health Policies For Nation
HEALTHCARE News:
CHICAGO – The American Medical Association (AMA) gathered physician and medical student leaders from all corners of medicine at its Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates to shape guiding policies on emerging health care topics.
The new policies adopted on the second day of voting at the AMA Annual Meeting include supporting “food is medicine” interventions to improve health outcomes, protecting the public and firefighters from wildfire toxins, opposing flavored vaping products to protect youth, advocating for restoring EPA’s Endangerment Finding on Greenhouse Read More
New Mexico Medicaid Adds Streamlined Process To Validate Provider Credentials
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Medicaid providers can now credential with all four of the state’s managed care organizations through a single platform, eliminating duplicative applications and accelerating how quickly providers can begin serving Medicaid members.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Molina Healthcare, Presbyterian Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare now use the CertifyOS platform to streamline and accelerate provider credentialing.
“We heard providers loud and clear that credentialing with each health plan was burdensome and time consuming,” said Alanna Read More
LACF Announces New Community Health & Wellness Grants
Los Alamos Family Council receives grant from LACF. Courtesy/LACF
JJAB receives grant from LACF. Courtesy/LACF
LACF News:
The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF), in partnership with Anchorum Health Foundation and CHRISTUS St. Vincent, is pleased to announce the distribution of $92,500 to seven Los Alamos nonprofit organizations that are advancing health, wellness, and community resilience across the region.
This marks the fourth grant cycle of in the last two years funded by Anchorum Health Foundation’s strategic focus on strengthening Northern New Mexico communities. The awarded Read More
Scenes From ChamberFest 2026
Kids busy at play on the popular sand pile on Central Avenue, the center piece of ChamberFest sponsored annually by Enterprise Bank & Trust in downtown Los Alamos, and this year also in White Rock. The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce event features local businesses, service organizations and other groups for ChamberFest, this year sponsored by UNIFI, Wingate by Wyndham, North Central Regional Transit District (Blue Bus), N3B and Exit Realty Advantage NM. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Transit Mix and Los Alamos County Public Works coordinated bringing in the sand Read More
New Mexico Health Care Authority Restores Hotline For Reporting Abuse Of People With Disabilities
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — New Mexicans will again be able to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities directly to intake specialists starting July 1 by calling a restored toll-free hotline: 800.445.6242.
The hotline connects callers straight to intake specialists in the New Mexico Health Care Authority’s Division of Health Improvement Incident Management Bureau, eliminating extra steps so reports reach the intake team more quickly. Beginning July 1, online reports submitted through HCA’s reporting webpage will also Read More
Q&A With MANNM
Carolyn Linnebur, MD
Specializes in Internal Medicine and Cardiology.
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
The following is a Question & Answer (Q&A) report with MANNM.
Who is MANNM?
Medical Associates of Northern New Mexico (MANNM) was established in 1974 by Dr. Carolyn Linnebur, and we recently celebrated our 50th anniversary. We are an independent, women-owned practice providing medical care in Los Alamos.
Are you affiliated with the hospital, and would you consider being acquired by a hospital system?
MANNM is an independent practice and is not Read More
State Announces $76.2M Investment In Rural Healthcare
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Health Care Authority today announced a new $76.2 million federal funding opportunity through Healthy Horizons, part of the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program, to expand access to specialty, maternal, behavioral health and chronic disease care in rural, frontier and Tribal communities across the state.
“Rural health needs are different across New Mexico, so the solutions need to be different too,” said Elisa Wrede, acting rural health director. “Through Healthy Horizons, we are investing in regional partners who can bring providers, Tribal Read More
Alzheimer’s Association Encourages New Mexicans To Take Charge Of Their Brain Health
HEALTHCARE News:
During Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month this June, the Alzheimer’s Association is calling on people across New Mexico to take charge of their brain health and learn how healthy habits and early detection can make a meaningful difference.
In New Mexico, 46,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and 68,000 family members and friends provide unpaid care. As the population ages, those numbers are expected to grow, underscoring the importance of brain health education and early detection in local communities.
Despite growing awareness of Alzheimer’s, a significant Read More
AMA Statement On Executive Order Directing CDC To Further Assess Childhood Vaccine Schedule
By Bobby Mukkamala, MD
President
American Medical Association
“There is no credible scientific evidence to support changing the current childhood vaccine schedule. That schedule is built on decades of rigorous research and real-world data, and it is designed to protect children in the U.S. when they are most vulnerable based on our nation’s disease burden.
“Altering it without clear, evidence-based justification risks continued confusion for parents and patients, undermining trust in vaccines, and ultimately lowering vaccination rates. That would put more children and communities Read More
Sam Houston State University College Of Osteopathic Medicine Receives Award To Bring Artificial Intelligence Into Residency Training
SHSU News:
HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) has been awarded $25,000 through the Innovations in Graduate Medical Education (GME) Development Grant from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM).
The three-year award will support a new initiative, AI Across Residency, focused on bringing artificial intelligence training into residency programs.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already showing up in healthcare, helping with diagnosis, patient communication and everyday clinical work. But while many Read More
County Offers Cooling Stations To Combat Extreme Heat
COUNTY News:
As New Mexico enters the summer months and periods of extreme heat, Los Alamos County offers cooling stations throughout the community.
These designated spaces are equipped with air conditioning or water and offer residents and visitors a safe place to seek relief and help prevent heat-related illnesses.
Los Alamos and White Rock cooling station locations:
- Los Alamos Municipal Building;
- Mesa Public Library;
- Betty Ehart Senior Center;
- Los Alamos Nature Center (PEEC);
- Fuller Lodge (Los Alamos Art Council);
- White Rock Welcome Center;
- White Rock Branch Library;
- White Rock Senior
State Warns Medicare Scammers Target Beneficiaries Receiving New Cards
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — New Medicare cards are arriving in mailboxes as part of a nationwide reissuance affecting 1.3 million beneficiaries—and state officials are warning residents that scammers routinely exploit these moments to steal personal information.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued updated Medicare cards with new Medicare numbers as part of an effort to improve security protections and reduce identity theft and fraudulent billing. Not all beneficiaries will receive an updated card. Official communications regarding replacement Medicare Read More
Local GLP-1 Support Group Gears Up For Summer Meetings
Dr. Elena McAtee, left, and Nutrition Coach Kate Cleveland prepared today for a busy season of Health and Wellness issues. Courtesy photo
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Los Alamos
May tends to be a very busy month and sometimes your own health and self-care may get pushed to the back burner. As we venture into June and those summer months are at hand, you might need a refresher to put those good habits back at the top of the list.
If you’re one of those people on the GLP-1 drugs, there might be a lot of information that can get overwhelming, but don’t worry, because a support group exists to help with the journey. Read More
New Mexico’s Health Professional Loan Repayment Program Expands To Address Doctor Shortage
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday announced a major expansion of New Mexico’s Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, the latest in a series of administration actions to address a physician shortage that has left 32 of the state’s 33 counties with critical gaps in care.
Under the expanded Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, licensed physicians — including part-time physicians — will receive $75,000 per year for student debt relief over a four-year service commitment, for a total of up to $300,000. That makes New Mexico’s program the Read More
LAMC Names Julia Kilcer Its 2026 Mercy Award Winner
From Los Alamos Medical Center:
Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) is proud to announce that Clinical Educator Julia Kilcer, RN, has been recognized as the facility’s 2026 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.
Kilcer has been the Clinical Educator at LAMC since August 2024, and while she shines brightly in that role, she is equally Read More
Los Alamos Medical Center Names Michael H. Covert As Chief Executive Officer
Michael H. Covert
LAMC News:
Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) announced that Michael H. Covert, FACHE, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective June 15. Covert will replace Bob Singletary, who has been serving as interim CEO since March.
Covert brings decades of healthcare leadership experience with a strong focus on community access, quality of care, and collaboration with physicians, caregivers, and local partners. He has led hospitals and health systems across the country, helping organizations grow services, strengthen operations and quality, and meet the evolving Read More
Op‑Ed: Los Alamos Medical Center Is Prepared When It Matters Most – Emergency Care for Moms And Babies
By ALAN HEILPERN, MD, Medical Director & Physician, Emergency Department
And
DEBRA TEMPLE, MHA, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Los Alamos Medical Center
Pregnancy and childbirth are moments of great anticipation and joy – but they can also come with unexpected medical emergencies. As clinical leaders at Los Alamos Medical Center, we want our community to know this clearly: our hospital is and will continue to be prepared to care for pregnant and postpartum patients when urgent needs arise.
As we prepare to transition inpatient labor and delivery services to regional partners at the Read More
National Academies Report: New Technologies And Approaches Needed To Shore Up Interconnected U.S. Energy And Water Systems
NATIONAL ACADEMIES News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — To strengthen the reliability and resiliency of the nation’s energy and water systems, the U.S. Department of Energy should develop innovative technology and infrastructure at the intersection of the two systems through a suite of pilot programs, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. U.S. energy and water systems are profoundly interconnected, and disruptions can cascade rapidly across both, affecting public health, economic activity, environmental quality, and national security.
Energy Read More
Scientists Map Shape Of RNA That Can Shut Down Genes
A Los Alamos research team is unraveling the structure and function of RNA. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
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In the field of human biology, there are many still-unanswered questions about the role of RNA, the less well-understood companion to DNA also found in all living cells, as scientists begin to unravel the complicated and important responsibilities of nucleic acid. In research described in Communications Biology, a Nature publication, an international research team applied innovative techniques Read More