Features

New Mexico Senate Passes Universal Child Care

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Bill Sponsor Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup

STATE News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate voted Thursday to pass legislation establishing universal child care while protecting the program’s accessibility for working families across the state.

Senate Bill 241, sponsored by Sen. George Muñoz (D-Gallup) and approved on a 25-15 vote, would provide child care to New Mexico families without mandatory co-pays except under specific economic conditions such as inflation or declining oil revenues. If economic triggers are met, co-pays would begin only for families earning above 600% of the Read More

Vitalant Shares February Blood Drive Schedule

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Three opportunities to donate blood with Vitalant in February. Sign up today at www.vitalant.org or call 877.258.4825. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen

COMMUNITY News:

February is National Heart Health Awareness Month and Vitalant would like to bring much-needed awareness to the community about how important transfusions are to the critical aspect of managing cardiac surgery patients (link). An estimated 50% of cardiac surgery patients require a blood transfusion, and with this being the month of love, Vitalant is inviting the community to help.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Vitalant Read More

New Mexico Senate Passes Initiative To Address Critical Shortage Of Healthcare Professionals

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Senate Democrats marked the passage Feb. 11 of Senate Bill 14 on the Senate Floor, a piece of legislation aimed to significantly expand the state’s Health Professional Loan Repayment Program to attract and retain healthcare providers in underserved communities across New Mexico.

Sponsored by Senators Martin Hickey (D – Albuquerque) and Natalie Figueroa (D – Albuquerque), SB 14 has received strong bipartisan support throughout the legislative process, passing unanimously through both the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee (10-0) and the Read More

New Mexico Environment Department Addresses Repeal Of EPA Endangerment Finding

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NMED Secretary James Kenney

NMED News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Secretary James Kenney issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s repeal of its “endangerment finding” — a policy that has served as the bedrock for federal environment and health advancements for decades:

“Today, the federal government destroyed decades of established policies grounded in hard science recognized by the American and global scientific community. As a science-based organization working to help New Mexicans breathe cleaner air Read More

New Mexico’s Law Makers Facing Medical Malpractice Bill With Higher Caps For Big Hospitals

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The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo

By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican

New Mexico lawmakers are moving forward with a new version of a medical malpractice overhaul bill that would limit the amount jurors could award in punitive damages but includes a higher cap for large hospital systems than other providers.

The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Wednesday evening to approve House Bill 99 after stripping an amendment that would have left punitive damages uncapped for corporate hospitals. The bill still has to make it through a House floor vote, as well as the Senate Read More

Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service Closing Its Doors But Other Options Are Available To Those In Need

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By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

The closure of Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service (LAVNS) on Feb. 20 after more than 50 years of service marks the end of a significant chapter in Los Alamos.

However, it is not the end of the story; there are still options available to those who utilized LAVNS’ services.

LAVNS Clinical Manager Susan Edwards noted that there are several home health care and hospice options available.

Home Health Agencies:

  • La Vida Bella Home Health & Hospice
  • Presbyterian Home Health

Hospice:

  • Ambercare
  • Red Willow
  • Roadrunner Hospice
  • Del Corazon
Read More

Luján, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Develop, Demonstrate, And Deploy Technologies To Accelerate Nuclear Waste Cleanup

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced the Combining Laboratory Expertise to Accelerate Novel Solutions for Minimizing Accumulated Radioactive Toxins (CLEAN SMART) Act.

This legislation would build on the success of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Network of National Laboratories for Environmental Management and Stewardship (NNLEMS) to accelerate nuclear waste cleanup.

The CLEAN SMART Act would codify and properly fund NNLEMS to leverage the best available science and technology of the nation’s national Read More

Think New Mexico: New Scandal From The Dark Money Group Opposing Medical Malpractice Reform

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From Think New Mexico:

Since the session began, New Mexicans like you have sent 10,879 emails to your legislators and the governor through Think New Mexico’s Action Center, with more than half of those urging lawmakers to reform the state’s malpractice laws.

Last night, New Mexico InDepth reported that the dark money group fighting malpractice reforms has been delivering emails to legislators that appear to be from their constituents expressing opposition to House Bill 99 – but when legislators reached out to respond, their constituents said they had never sent those Read More