WTAE ABC4 Pittsburgh – An ambulance crew from Jeannette is getting praise for spotting a suspected arson on Brownstown Road in North Huntingdon and turning their dashboard camera toward the fire so police could use the video as evidence.
Life saving measures were started immediately by theambulance crew, Sparta Area Fire Fighters, Sparta Police Department and MonroeCounty Sheriff’s Department. Related: The Art and Science of Improving Resuscitation Paramedic Dann Schamens did not have a pulse and was notbreathing when he went down Saturday morning, according to a Facebook post fromthe Sparta Area Ambulance Service. SPARTA, Wis. — A paramedic responding at a house firecollapsed this weekend while at the scene. The La Crosse Tribune reports two people were rescued from the fire. First responders were able to regain a pulse and he was flown by Gundersen Air to Gundersen Health. Schamens is currently in stable condition, the service said. Above photo: Sparta Area Ambulance Facebook
View Comments The Little Foxes Cynthia Nixon & Laura Linney(Photo: Emilio-Madrid-Kuser) Related Shows
A new revival of Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes, starring Tony nominee Laura Linney and Tony winner Cynthia Nixon, begins performances tonight at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway. The unique production, featuring the two stars alternating in the roles of Regina Hubbard Giddens and Birdie Hubbard, is directed by Daniel Sullivan. The revival will officially open on April 19 with the limited run concluding on June 18.In addition to Linney and Nixon, the cast includes Emmy winner Richard Thomas as Horace, Darren Goldstein as Oscar, Michael McKean as Ben, David Alford as Mr. Marshall, Michael Benz as Leo Hubbard, Caroline Stefanie Clay as Addie, Francesca Carpanini as Alexandra Giddens and Charles Turner as Cal.Linney and Nixon play the roles of Regina and Birdie in repertory, appearing opposite each other at each performance. Set in Alabama in 1900, The Little Foxes follows the two as they clash in often brutal ways in an effort to strike the deal of their lives. Show Closed This production ended its run on July 2, 2017
About Patient Engagement Systems®Patient Engagement Systems® (PES) is a nationally recognized healthcare services company dedicated to supporting its customers’ goal of helping people with chronic diseases, specifically diabetes and chronic kidney disease, improve their health, and reduce costs. PES provides medical groups, IPAs, health plans, health systems and government agencies with a suite of automated patient engagement tools, timely clinical decision support and the analytics needed to better identify, manage and monitor these high-cost patients. PES’s signature platforms include the Diabetes Patient Engagement System℠, a chronic care management and patient engagement technology developed and tested in a five-year National Institutes of Health funded study that verified care process improvements and cost reductions, the Chronic Kidney Disease Patient Engagement System℠ and the ESRD Prevention Program℠. PES is an IBM Global Entrepreneurial Partner, and is a 2011 URAC Bronze Awardee for Best Practice in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection.www.patientengagementsystems.com(link is external)About DPS HealthFounded in 2004, DPS Health enhances the capacity of organizations to improve the health of their obese members, employees and/or patients through research-proven, web and mobile self-management support interventions. www.dpshealth.com/(link is external) Patient Engagement Systems, of Burlington, Vermont, announced today it has enhanced its suite of patient engagement and clinical decision support tools for patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with the addition of DPS Health’s Virtual Lifestyle Management (VLM) service. Together, this enhancement underscores PES’s commitment to help health plans, medical groups and providers improve outcomes and lower the costs associated with treating patients with chronic conditions.By enhancing the Patient Engagement Systems’ solution with the VLM service, PES customers will now have access to lifestyle coaching and behavior change services integrated directly with population monitoring, analytics and communication.Benjamin Littenberg, MD, medical director, Patient Engagement Systems, said, ‘PES’s patient engagement suite of tools, clinical analytics and decision support solutions combined with DPS Health’s proven online obesity lifestyle management and personalized coaching, will enhance patient engagement to further reduce costs and improve outcomes for individuals with diabetes and chronic kidney disease.’ Patient Engagement Systems is a leader and innovator in creating effective care management programs and solutions which support and enhance a providers’ management of high-cost patients, such as those with diabetes and chronic kidney disease.Based on the National Institute of Health’s landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), DPS Health’s Virtual Lifestyle Management service is an evidence-based, year-long online weight management program that successfully engages individuals to improve their physical activity and nutrition habits to achieve lasting weight loss. VLM combines online education, guided self-discovery, barrier mitigation, goal setting, monitoring and tracking, with internet-based coaching for a comprehensive weight loss program that directly addresses critical needs of those at-risk for chronic diseases.‘Obesity is a driver for many poor outcomes and increased costs for individuals with, or at risk for diabetes and other common conditions such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and early renal disease,’ said Neal Kaufman, MD, DPS Health Chief Medical Officer. ‘VLM has been developed specifically to counteract these complications, and deliver on the goals of driving significant weight loss, improving diabetes outcomes and delivering a positive return on investment.’
Proposed board actions Proposed board actions Pursuant to Standing Board Policy 1.60, the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar hereby publishes this notice of intent to consider or take final action at its March 28, 2008 meeting in Washington D.C. on the following items. These matters are additionally governed by Rule 1-12.1, Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, where applicable. Most amendments to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar that are finally acted upon by the board must still be formally presented to the Supreme Court of Florida, with further notice and opportunity to be heard, before they are officially approved and become effective. To receive a full copy of the text of any of these proposed amendments call (850)561-5751. Please reference any requested proposal by its title or item number and date of this publication. RULES REGULATING THE FLORIDA BAR Chapter 1 General Subchapter 1-3 Membership 1. Rule 1-3.12 Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster Summary: New rule, in connection with separate proposed amendments to rule 4-5.5, which relaxes practice restrictions on attorneys not admitted in a jurisdiction that sustains a major disaster affecting its justice system, after a determination of such by the highest court of that jurisdiction. Subchapter 1-12 Amendments 2. Rule 1-12.1 Amendment to Rules; Authority; Notice; Procedures; Comments Summary: In connection with companion amendment of SBP 1.10 and SBP 6.20, deletes within subdivision (a) the reference to the “designation plan.” Chapter 3 Rules of Discipline Subchapter 3-2 Definitions 3. Rule 3-2.1 Generally Summary: Within subdivision (p) re designated reviewer, codifies that a designated reviewer for a specially created grievance committee will be selected by the president and approved by the board. Subchapter 3-3 Jurisdiction to Enforce Rules 4. Rule 3-3.2 Board of Governors of The Florida Bar Summary: In connection with separate proposed amendments to rule 3-7.2, within subdivision (b) re authority to file complaints based on felony charges, adds that a grievance committee chair’s decision to not file a complaint may be reviewed by the full committee, which may affirm or reverse the chair’s decision; also adds a decision of the Florida Supreme Court imposing judicial discipline in an action brought by the Judicial Qualifications Commission to the list of events that authorizes the filing of a formal lawyer disciplinary complaint; includes other non-substantive edits, adds appropriate subdivision titles and numbers consistent with controlling editorial protocols, and redesignates other affected entries as necessary. Subchapter 3-5 Types of Discipline 5. Rule 3-5.4 Publication of Discipline Summary: Proposed new rule, to codify court and bar policy regarding publication of disciplinary sanctions in the Southern Reporter and The Florida Bar News, and on The Florida Bar’s website. Subchapter 3-7 Procedures 6. Rule 3-7.2 Procedures Upon Criminal or Professional Misconduct; Discipline Upon Determination or Judgment of Guilt of Criminal Misconduct Summary: In connection with separate proposed amendments to rule 3-3.2, adds new subdivision (m), re discipline upon removal from judicial office, to require notice to the bar of any order of the supreme court removing a member from judicial office; upon receipt of such order, also authorizes the bar to file a formal complaint with the court and to seek appropriate discipline; further provides that the findings of fact by the court in any proceedings resulting in the removal of a member from judicial office shall be conclusive proof of such facts in bar disciplinary proceedings. 7. Rule 3-7.6 Procedures Before a Referee Summary: Within subdivision (a), adds language requiring that, before a judge may be appointed to serve as a referee, the judge must have served as a judicial referee under these rules at least once or have certified to the supreme court that the judge has reviewed pertinent referee training materials; adds appropriate subdivision titles and designations consistent with controlling editorial protocols. 8. Rule 3-7.11 General Rules of Procedure Summary: In connection with companion amendment of rule 4-8.4(g), within subdivision (f) re contempt, provides a summary process for addressing a respondent’s failure to respond to official bar inquiries in disciplinary proceedings; requires bar petition to supreme court, for contempt and order to show cause; provides 10 days for respondent’s response; allows for assignment of matters to a referee for factual findings; and authorizes suspension in such cases. 9. Rule 3-7.13 Incapacity Not Related to Misconduct Summary: Broadens application of the rule to a bar member’s incapacity or hospitalization under the authority of “applicable law” — as well as the Florida Mental Health Act — when that lawyer is incapable of practicing due to physical or mental illness, incapacity, or other infirmity; deletes outdated references to “incompetence” throughout; adds provision allowing a lawyer to consent to incapacity not for misconduct in the same manner as other consent judgments in rule 3-7.9; adds subdivision titles consistent with controlling editorial protocols and redesignates other affected entries as necessary. Chapter 4 Rules of Professional Conduct Subchapter 4-3 Advocate 10. Rule 4-3.3 Candor Toward the Tribunal (client perjury) Summary: Within comment re false evidence, deletes previously approved provision stating the prohibition against offering false evidence only applies if a lawyer knows the evidence is false, and that a lawyer’s reasonable belief that evidence is false does not preclude its presentation to the trier of fact; deletes comment re perjury by a criminal defendant, to reflect no difference between the obligations of a civil lawyer and a criminal lawyer re client perjury; and, within comment re remedial measures, deletes provisions re withdrawal, to reflect that withdrawal alone will likely never be an adequate remedial measure when there has been a misrepresentation to the court. Subchapter 4-5 Law Firms and Associations 11. Rule 4-5.5 Unlicensed Practice of Law; Mutijurisdictional Practice of Law Summary: Within subdivisions (c) & (d), adds “or” at the end of each listed instance of authorized temporary practice in Florida, to clarify that a lawyer admitted to practice in a non-Florida jurisdiction need only meet 1 such criterion to be authorized to temporarily practice in Florida ; in connection with separate proposed amendments for new rule 1-3.12, within subdivision (c) and commentary, adds language that allows a lawyer admitted to practice in another U.S. jurisdiction to engage in activities authorized by rule 1-3.12 after a determination of a major disaster by the appropriate court. Subchapter 4-7 Information About Legal Services 12. Rule 4-7.5 Advertisements in the Electronic Media Other Than Computer-Accessed Communications Summary: Within subdivision (b), deletes the requirement, in instances where a nonlawyer spokesperson is used, that an oral disclosure be given that the spokesperson is a spokesperson and is not a lawyer. 13. Rule 4-7.10 Definition of LRS Summary: Within subdivision (c), revises the definition of a lawyer referral service to clarify that the referral of clients for any consideration constitutes a referral service. Subchapter 4-8 Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession 14. Rule 4-8.4 Misconduct Summary: In connection with companion amendment of rule 3-7.11(f), within subdivision (g) specifies that failure to respond to an official bar inquiry without good cause shown may be a matter of contempt. Chapter 6 Legal Specialization and Education Programs Subchapter 6-3 Florida Certification Plan 15. Rule 6-3.7 Board Certified Emeritus Specialist Status Summary: Revises rule title and verbiage throughout, to reflect “board certified” emeritus specialist and add other conforming edits; within subdivision (a), adds new language explaining that board certified emeritus specialist status is intended to distinguish attorneys and judicial officers who are or have been certified and are no longer substantially involved in the practice law sufficient to satisfy standards for certification; adds new subdivision (b), to define “Board Certified Emeritus Specialist” and redesignates subsequent subdivisions appropriately; revises current subdivision (b) – new (c) – to outline eligibility requirements for judicial officers and attorneys seeking to apply for board certified emeritus specialist status, including at least 10 years of certification in the respective area and completion of 2 approved recertification applications; in current subdivision (c) – new (d) – amends language to specify that to qualify, an applicant must no longer be practicing law or substantially involved in the practice sufficient to meet the standards to retain board certification, and eliminates peer review as a criterion for determination of qualification; within subdivision (d) – new (e) – specifies the term “emeritus” must be used in all oral or written communications regarding board certification; and deletes subdivision (h) exemption provisions. Subchapter 6-16 Standards for Certification of a Board Certified Business Litigation Lawyer 16. Rule 6-16.4 Business Litigation; Recertification Summary: Within subsection (b), adds provision for waiver of the evidentiary hearing criteria for applicants who have been certified in business litigation for 14 years or more. STANDING BOARD POLICIES 100 Series General Board Policies 17. SBP 1.10 Seals, Emblems and Publicity Symbols of The Florida Bar Summary: In connection with companion amendment of rule 1-12.1 and SBP 6.20, deletes within subdivision (a) the reference to the “designation plan.” 500 Series Committees, Sections and Divisions 18. SBP 5.80 Divisions of The Florida Bar Summary: Updates references to the Out-Of-State Practitioners Division, to the Out-Of-State Division. 600 Series Continuing Legal Education 19. SBP 6.20 Authority for CLE Courses Summary: In connection with companion amendment of rule 1-12.1 and SBP 1.10, deletes within subdivision (a) the reference to the “designation plan.” 20. SBP 6.31 Distribution of Proceeds Summary: Updates references to the Out-Of-State Practitioners Division, to the Out-Of-State Division. 1500 Series Lawyer Regulation Policies 21. SBP 15.77 Access to Designated Reviewer Summary: Expresses bar policy that designated reviewers shall exercise sound discretion with respect to discussions concerning disciplinary cases with persons other than members of the board of governors, bar counsel, or other bar staff; further states as policy that designated reviewers should report such communications to bar counsel so that bar counsel may be better informed and provide more competent representation. 22. SBP 15.92 Administration of Public Reprimands Summary: New policy which would require the bar president approve the video recording of the administration of a public reprimand. Further states that the bar will not post the video of the administration of a public reprimand on its website. BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION AND EDUCATION POLICIES BLSE Policies – 200 Series – Florida Certification Plan 23. BLSE 2.02 Areas of Certification Summary: Within new subdivision (c), requires that proposed amendments to any certification areas be shared with various bar groups for comment prior to submission to the BLSE; within new subdivision (d), adds provision for an evaluation of any certification area that does not reach a 75-member minimum aspirational threshold upon completion of its third application cycle; within new subdivision (e), specifies that the BLSE will submit a written report of its evaluation results to the board of governors within 3 months of completing its evaluation. 24. BLSE 2.17 Stay of Certification Summary: Proposed new policy which specifies instances in which a member may seek a temporary stay of certification; specifies requirements by which such member must abide; and sets forth conditions to lift stay. 25. BLSE 2.18 Judicial Officers Summary: New policy, which defines the term “judicial officer” for those who are board certified and sets forth provisions for judicial officers who wish to retain such certification. BLSE Policies – 500 Series – Course Approval 26. BLSE Policy 5.05 Credit for Other CLE Activities Summary: Within new subdivision (g), permits continuing legal education credit for selected executive branch offices. SECTION BYLAWS 27. Out of State Division Summary: Within Article I, Section 1 (Name and Purpose – Name), revises official section name, to “Out-of-State Division” rather than the Out-of-State Practitioners’ Division; within Article 2 (Membership) deletes Section 2.3 (Affiliate Members) and related entries re such members in Section 2.4 (Removal from Membership); within Article 3 (Officers) adds new subsection (f) (Bar Staff) which formalizes the delegation of tasks to the division’s program administrator but with officers retaining ultimate responsibility for their official duties; within Article 4, Section 1 (Executive Council – Governing Body) adds provisions recognizing that the council may grant authorization to expend funds through the annual budgeting process, and proposing that council business be conducted by “electronic media”; within Section 4.3 (Membership of the Executive Council), clarifies in subdivision (a) (Composition) that the Young Lawyers Division liaison is appointed by the YLD president, increases the number of at-large seats on the council to 6 rather than the current level of “up to 5,” and in subdivision (c) (Terms of Office) proposes that at-large council members serve terms of 2 years instead of the current 3-year terms, with half of those seats open for election each year; within Section 5.1(a)(2) (Committees – Standing Committees – Nominating Committee) reduces the nominating committee to 3 rather than 5 members, with 2 appointed by the president-elect and 1 appointed by the president, at least 4 rather than the current 6 months prior to the division’s annual meeting; deletes the Multi State Practice Committee from the list of standing committees within Section 5.1(a)(6); within Section 5.2 9 (Committee Composition) eliminates the requirement for vice-chairs of each committee; within Section 5.3 (Committee Meetings) authorizes the use of electronic or telephonic communications to conduct committee meetings; within Section 5.6 (Committee Reports) eliminates the current provision keeping committee reports confidential in the absence of authorization by the president; within Section 6.2 (Meetings – Executive Council Meetings) expressly authorizes the executive council to hold meetings telephonically or by electronic means, and shortens the requirement for advance notice of meetings, from 15 to 7 days; within Section 8.3 (Miscellaneous – Compensation and Expenses) clarifies that the reimbursement of executive council member travel expenses is $400 “per meeting;” and redesignates other affected subdivision entries as necessary. March 1, 2008 Regular News
The Boston Globe: We spend much of our lives dealing with familiar routines, objects, and people, on the assumption that these things are preferable to alternatives. According to a new study, though, familiarity can backfire under pressure. Researchers at Stanford University asked people to choose between two tasks, one of which was somewhat more onerous yet more familiar.Read the whole story: The Boston Globe
Mar 10, 2010College flu activity stays steadyThe nation’s colleges saw a very slight decrease in flu-like illnesses last week, but the attack rate stayed about the same as the previous 2 weeks, about 3 to 4 cases per 10,000 students, the American College Health Association (ACHA) reported today. So far the patterns don’t signal a third pandemic flu wave, even on a regional level. Two more hospitalizations were reported, and the vaccination level stayed the same, at about 8%.http://www.acha.org/ILI_Project/ILI_Surveillance.cfm/?date=031010Mar 10 ACHA surveillance reportIndia set to launch vaccine campaignIndia’s health ministry said the country will begin vaccinating its priority groups against the pandemic H1N1 virus next week, Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) reported today. Doctors and paramedics will be among the first to receive the vaccine. India has purchased 1.5 million doses from Sanofi and had asked the company to conduct a pandemic vaccine trial in India, which it has completed and sent to the ministry. Indian companies are also working on pandemic H1N1 vaccines.http://www.deccanherald.com/content/57311/india-likely-start-swine-flu.htmlMar 10 IANS storyStudy: 1976 vaccine may protect against novel H1N1A mouse study found that earlier infection with a 1976 classical swine H1N1 virus completely protected against the current pandemic virus, suggesting modern day benefits for those who received the 1976 swine flu vaccine, according to a study in Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses. Mice infected with either 2009 or 1940 seasonal H1N1 viruses showed partial protection, which might partly explain why older people seem to have some protection against the pandemic virus.http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123315764/abstractMar 8study abstract
Jun 18, 2010 (CIDRAP News) – An outbreak of 29 Salmonella serotype Chester cases in 14 states has prompted the recall of frozen chicken-and-rice dinners by ConAgra Foods, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced yesterday.ConAgra announced a “precautionary” recall of all Marie Callender’s brand Cheesy Chicken and Rice frozen meals now in commerce. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said eight case-patients recalled eating the product in April and May before they got sick. The last known illness was reported May 22.The illnesses had not been definitively tied to the frozen dinners as of yesterday. But today the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) said it had found Salmonella Chester, a rare strain, in an intact package of the recalled product from the home of a case-patient. “This package was purchased at the same time as a similar package that was consumed just prior to the case’s onset of illness,” the MDA said in a news release.The MDA said the outbreak involved 30 cases in 15 states, including 2 in Minnesota. Federal agencies had not released a list of the other affected states at this writing.The FSIS said an investigation by several federal and state agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is ongoing.The recalled product is in 13-ounce packages labeled “Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken & Rice White Meat Chicken and Broccoli over Rice Topped with Rich Cheddar Sauce,” the FSIS said. The packages have the establishment number “P-45″ inside the USDA mark of inspection.The products were distributed to retail stores nationwide. ConAgra advised consumers to discard the products or return them to the store for a refund.A ConAgra spokeswoman said many but not necessarily all of the ingredients in the recalled dinners were precooked.”Many of the meal components, including the chicken, are cooked by us during the manufacturing process. There may be some ingredients, such as vegetables, that are not cooked,” spokeswoman Teresa Paulsen told CIDRAP News.While advising consumers to discard the recalled products, the FSIS urged consumers to carefully follow cooking instruction for all frozen entrees. All ingredients should reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F, the agency said.A number of illness outbreaks in the past have been linked to frozen entrees that were not precooked or were only browned during processing. For example, two outbreaks totaling 29 cases in Minnesota in 2006 were linked to frozen, pre-browned chicken entrees. Officials said consumers, probably thinking they were precooked, likely didn’t cook them thoroughly.In other developments, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today that the number of salmonellosis cases linked to Subway restaurants in the state has risen to 90. Patients have reported eating at Subway outlets in 28 counties, the agency said. Yesterday’s IDPH updated listed 86 cases in 26 counties. The outbreak strain, Salmonella Hvittingfoss, has not been found in any Subway food products.See also: Jun 17 FSIS statement on outbreak and recallhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_036_2010_Release/index.aspJun 17 ConAgra Foods press release about recallhttp://media.conagrafoods.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=97518&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1439629&highlight=Jun 18 MDA press releasehttp://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/news/releases/2010/nr-2010-06-18-recall.aspxIDPH page with Salmonella outbreak updatehttp://www.idph.state.il.us/Jul 21, 2006, CIDRAP News story on outbreak linked to frozen chicken entreeshttp://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/fs/food-disease/news/jul2106salmo.html
New Mexico Medicaid Director Nicole ComeauxSTATE News: SANTA FE – New Mexico’s Medicaid Program is now requiring managed care organizations to reimburse doctors, behavioral health providers and other health care professionals for telephone and video patient visits until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.Health care providers who consult with patients via telephone or computer video must be paid the same rate as if they’d seen the patient in person, according to a Letter of Direction from Medicaid Director Nicole Comeaux to the state’s managed care organizations, which cover about 680,000 New Mexicans in the state’s Medicaid program.Telemedicine is another way to prevent social contact and reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19.“It’s vitally important that Medicaid members – who make up almost half of all New Mexicans – have safe access to health care during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Comeaux said. “We are working closely with our provider networks to ensure they’re adequately supported, and we are also pursuing every federal option to secure reimbursements for providers who are delivering needed health care to New Mexicans in unconventional settings.”Superintendent of Insurance Russell Toal Superintendent of Insurance Russell Toal informed insurance companies that cover New Mexicans with private health insurance that they, too, are expected to cover telehealth services at the same rate they pay for in-person services and comply with mental health parity laws during this public health emergency.Mental health parity law requires health plans to cover mental health and addiction treatment services the same way they treat other medical services.“All New Mexicans should receive the same protections under their health insurance plans, regardless of the source of their health coverage,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said.The Medicaid program and the Office of the Superintendent have worked closely to align strategies to protect New Mexicans and their health care providers and to maximize access to needed health care services while practicing social distancing.Toal said behavioral health services are critically important during the public health emergency.“Our office has received complaints from patients who need behavioral health services, and we will enforce regulatory requirements that require mental health parity and access to telemedicine,” he said.The Medicaid Letter of Direction also requires managed care organizations to:Waive all prior authorizations for members to obtain COVID-19 testing and treatment services (including inpatient and outpatient), and to alert providers of this provision;Expand nurse advice lines to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the emergency if such functionality does not already exist;Coordinate with home care providers to ensure continued in-person services for those who need them while using telephone visits to the extent possible;Allow for replacement of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies when they are lost, destroyed, irreparably damaged or otherwise rendered unusable without the face-to-face requirement for obtaining a new physician’s order and new medical necessity documentation;Reimburse for prescriptions dispensed in amounts up to a 90-day supply (excluding controlled substances).The New Mexico Human Services Department is also waiving the maximum-supply requirement for maintenance drugs and relaxing restrictions on early medication refills as follows:30-day prescriptions may be refilled when the member has two weeks of medication on-hand, or what is allowed by the managed-care organization if less restrictive;90-day prescriptions may be refilled when the member has three weeks of medication on-hand, or what is allowed by the managed-care organization if less restrictive.
STATE News:SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials have announced this afternoon 467 additional positive tests for COVID-19.Los Alamos County has another new case bringing today’s total to 17 cases that have tested positive for COVID-19.Today’s update announces 5 additional deaths reported in New Mexico related to COVID-19.The New Mexico Department of Health reported today the most recent cases: 62 new cases in Bernalillo County2 new cases in Chaves County8 new cases in Cibola County1 new case in Colfax County16 new cases in Curry County76 new cases in Doña Ana County4 new cases in Eddy County1 new case in Grant County25 new cases in Lea County1 new case in Los Alamos County7 new cases in Luna County13 new cases in McKinley County21 new cases in Otero County 6 new cases in Rio Arriba County7 new cases in Roosevelt County9 new cases in Sandoval County12 new cases in San Juan County12 new cases in Santa Fe County2 new cases in Taos County4 new cases in Torrance County6 new cases in Valencia County170 new cases among individuals held by federal agencies at the Cibola County Correctional Center2 new cases among New Mexico Corrections Department inmates at the Otero County Prison FacilityThe 5 additional deaths in New Mexico reported today include:A female in her 60s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions. The individual was a resident of the Sandia Ridge Center facility in Albuquerque.A male in his 80s from Bernalillo County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions. The individual was a resident of the Montebello on Academy facility in Albuquerque.A female in her 100s from Doña Ana County. The individual had underlying conditions and was a resident of the Good Samaritan Society facility in Las Cruces.A male in his 50s from Lea County. The individual was hospitalized.A male in his 60s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized.The number of deaths of New Mexico residents related to COVID-19 is now 619.Previously reported numbers included four cases that have been identified as duplicates (one in Bernalillo County, two in Lea County, one in McKinley County) and five cases that have been identified as out-of-state residents (two in Bernalillo County, one in Doña Ana County, one in Grant County, one in San Juan County) – these have now been corrected. Previously reported numbers did not include two cases that were thought to be out-of-state residents but have since been determined to be New Mexico residents and have been added to their respective county totals, one in Bernalillo County and one in Chaves County. Including the above newly reported cases, New Mexico has now had a total of 19,502 COVID-19 cases: Bernalillo County: 4,466Catron County: 4Chaves County: 270Cibola County: 302Colfax County: 13Curry County: 395Doña Ana County: 2,064Eddy County: 225Grant County: 63Guadalupe County: 29Harding County: 1Hidalgo County: 85Lea County: 546Lincoln County: 75Los Alamos County: 17Luna County: 197McKinley County: 3,921Mora County: 6Otero County: 168Quay County: 31Rio Arriba County: 280Roosevelt County: 117Sandoval County: 1,018San Juan County: 2,926San Miguel County: 39Santa Fe County: 510Sierra County: 26Socorro County: 71Taos County: 86Torrance County: 56Union County: 23Valencia County: 319County totals are subject to change upon further investigation and determination of residency of individuals positive for COVID-19.The Department of Health currently reports the following numbers of COVID-19 cases among individuals held by federal agencies at the following facilities:Cibola County Correctional Center: 175Otero County Prison Facility: 277Otero County Processing Center: 159Torrance County Detention Facility: 43The Department of Health currently reports the following numbers of COVID-19 cases among individuals held by the New Mexico Corrections Department at the following facilities:Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County: 24Lea County Correctional Facility: 2Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility: 1Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center in Cibola County: 1Otero County Prison Facility: 469Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County: 1Western New Mexico Correctional Facility: 1As of today, there are 159 individuals hospitalized in New Mexico for COVID-19. This number may include individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 out of state but are currently hospitalized in New Mexico. This number does not include New Mexicans who tested positive for COVID-19 and may have been transferred to a hospital out of state.As of today, there are 7,459 COVID-19 cases designated as having recovered by the New Mexico Department of Health.The Department of Health has identified at least one positive COVID-19 case in residents and/or staff in the past 28 days at the following long-term care and acute care facilities:The Adobe in Las CrucesAdvanced Health Care of Albuquerque in AlbuquerqueThe Aristocrat Assisted Living Center in AlamogordoAvamere Rehab at Fiesta Park in AlbuquerqueBear Canyon Rehabilitation Center in AlbuquerqueBeeHive Homes of Farmington in FarmingtonBloomfield Nursing and Rehabilitation in BloomfieldBlue Horizon Assisted Living in Las CrucesBonney Family Home in GallupBrookdale Juan Tabo Place in AlbuquerqueCamino Healthcare in AlbuquerqueCasa Contenta Assisted Living in Rio RanchoCasa del Sol Center in Las CrucesCasa de Oro Center in Las CrucesCasa Real in Santa FeCedar Ridge Inn in Farmington Clayton Nursing and Rehab in ClaytonCrane’s Roost Care Home in AztecDesert Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in HobbsEl Castillo in Santa FeGoodLife Senior Living in CarlsbadGood Samaritan Society in Las CrucesLife Care Center of Farmington in FarmingtonMontebello on Academy in AlbuquerqueThe Neighborhood in Rio RanchoNew Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or ConsequencesNorth Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in AlbuquerquePrinceton Place in AlbuquerqueRed Rocks Care Center in GallupRetirement Ranches, Inc. in ClovisRetreat Healthcare in Rio RanchoThe Rio at Las Estancias in AlbuquerqueRio Rancho Center in Rio RanchoSagecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Las CrucesSandia Ridge Center in AlbuquerqueSombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Los AlamosSierra Health Care Center, Inc. in Truth or Consequences Sierra Springs Assisted Living in Los LunasSpanish Trails Rehabilitation Suites in AlbuquerqueSunset Villa Care Center in RoswellTaos Living Center in TaosWelbrook Senior Living Las Cruces in Las CrucesWhite Sands Healthcare in HobbsThe Department of Health has detected community spread in the state of New Mexico and is investigating cases with no known exposure. The agency reports that given the infectious nature of the virus it is likely other residents are infected but yet to be tested or confirmed positive. To that end, all New Mexicans have been instructed to stay home except for outings absolutely necessary for health, safety and welfare. These additional restrictions have been enacted to aggressively minimize person-to-person contact and ensure spread is mitigated. New Mexicans are strongly urged to limit travel to only what is necessary for health, safety and welfare.The New Mexico Department of Health has active investigations into the positive patients, which includes contact-tracing and swabs of symptomatic individuals who have had contact with the positive cases.Every New Mexican must work together to stem the spread of COVID-19. Get tested. Stay home, especially if you are sick. Wear a mask or face covering when in public and around others.New Mexicans who report symptoms of COVID-19 infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or loss of taste or smell should call their health care provider or the NMDOH COVID-19 hotline immediately (1-855-600-3453).Thanks to increased statewide testing capacity, the following people may now be considered for COVID-19 testing: Symptomatic people displaying the COVID-19 symptoms of cough, fever, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or loss of taste or smell;Asymptomatic people who are close contacts or household members of New Mexico residents who have already tested positive for the coronavirus;Asymptomatic residents in nursing homes;Asymptomatic people in congregate settings such as homeless shelters, group homes, detention centers; andAsymptomatic people who are currently working.New Mexicans who have non-health-related questions or concerns can also call 833-551-0518 or visit newmexico.gov, which is being updated regularly as a one-stop source for information for families, workers and others affected by and seeking more information about COVID-19.