Author
New law gives state officials more oversight on hospital acquisitions
Hospital acquisitions are growing across the country, and that’s leading to higher prices for patients. Many of those deals involve private equity, which often makes cuts to certain care to drive up profits, or religious organizations that might refuse types of care that they don’t support. New Mexico is at an especially high risk for deals […]
Climate change might prompt more mosquitoes to move into New Mexico
Climate change is having an impact on where many creatures live, including mosquitoes. That’s according to a new study from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The pesky insects are likely to become more common in New Mexico, just like a lot of the rest of the continent. LANL Scientist Andrew Bartlow worked with a team to make […]
Reproductive health care clinic is a step closer to opening in Las Cruces
A new reproductive health clinic on Wednesday got the go-ahead from the University of New Mexico’s Board of Regents to move forward with its building plans. The group planning the clinic can now purchase land for it. The state approved $10 million last year for a reproductive health center in Doña Ana County. Since then, […]
Study measures impact of NM behavioral health copay law
A new, one-of-a-kind law took effect in New Mexico two years ago that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans. A new study on the law says results so far are mixed. Ezra Golberstein, an associate professor of health policy and management at the University of Minnesota, said he hardly believed the No […]
The success of a new waiting period for gun purchases may depend on existing and future laws
Geoff Harms lives just north of Los Angeles and grew up not far from here. When he was a kid, he made friends with the new kid, Dan Flock, who came just before him in the alphabetic class list. Dan eventually moved out to New Mexico as a young adult. “Over the course of my […]
State opens applications for grants aimed at maintaining the birthing workforce
A state fund for keeping members of the birthing workforce in their jobs is open for applications. The goal is to ensure there are enough practitioners to serve the state, which has struggled to provide accessible care. The fund is aimed at certified nurse-midwives and physicians who provide full-scope perinatal care. It provides money specifically […]
New Albuquerque dashboard shows the city made over 1,000 encampment sweeps in January
A new dashboard created by the City of Albuquerque with monthly data related to homelessness shows the city logged over 1,000 encampment sweeps in January. The site shows how many people use the city’s shelters, how many families move into permanent housing through navigation programs and how many receive eviction prevention assistance, among other metrics. Katie Simon, […]
NM officials are testing high schools’ wastewater for drugs without a clear plan for the results
On an afternoon with blowing dust and sideways snow, two people in bright yellow vests and heavy winter clothes worked over an open manhole in the brush behind Belen High School. “Ice packs to make sure that everything stays cold. Not that that’s a problem right now,” said Tom Brown, an employee with Eastern Research […]
Bills aimed at keeping rural health care afloat head to governor’s desk
Several bills that would help keep New Mexico’s rural health care providers in business are heading to the governor. New Mexico’s county and tribal health councils came looking for funding in this year’s budgetary session, and they are slated to receive about half of what they asked for. Rep. Anthony Allison (D-Fruitland) sponsored a bill this session […]
Bill aims to keep New Mexico health councils afloat
County and Tribal health councils are mandated by state law, but unless they get more funding in the legislative session, most of their operating budgets will disappear. One bill aims to prevent that. Health councils were written into New Mexico law over 30 years ago as a way to help manage public health resources across […]
Families and formerly incarcerated young people seeks change after Christmas Day protest
On Christmas Day, young people in the state’s largest youth detention center protested conditions for five hours, and three were later treated for injuries. Now, formerly incarcerated young people and families of kids who are currently detained are giving the county a list of demands for changes. Alicia Padilla’s son is currently detained at the […]
NM Supreme Court hears arguments on public health order
The New Mexico Supreme Court heard arguments Monday without issuing a ruling on Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s public health order regarding gun violence and drug abuse. Detractors say the problems with the order go far beyond the well-publicized gun ban. Gun rights advocates from the National Rifle Association to the Republican Party of New Mexico […]