Category Archives: Uncategorized

Effective Oct. 1, healthcare services delivered by in-state psychiatric residential treatment facilities will be reimbursable for eligible Medicaid beneficiaries

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Effective October 1, 2018, Teton Peaks, a division of the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, will begin providing Medicaid reimbursable services as a certified in-state Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF).

These services are intended to help Idaho and PRTF’s improve healthcare delivery systems for Medicaid beneficiaries by allowing in-state access to care, strengthening continuity of care, and improving population health. Here is the legal notice:  Continue reading →

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September is Sepsis Awareness Month – Spot the signs to get ahead of sepsis

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Sepsis is the body’s extreme reaction to any infection. It is a medical emergency that affects at least 1.7 million people each year in the United States and kills nearly 270,000.  Early detection offers the best chance for survival and can limit life-long complications. Otherwise, it can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death. This month is Sepsis Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to get ahead of sepsis by learning the risks and how to avoid them. Continue reading →

Back-to-school: What vaccines do your kids (and you!) need?

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August is National Immunization Awareness Month, so with summer winding down and kids heading back to school, be sure to check immunization requirements, especially for kindergartners and seventh graders. It’s also a good time to check records for everyone in your family, including adults. Getting immunized is a safe and important step to protecting our families and ourselves against serious and even deadly diseases throughout our lives. Continue reading →

S. Idaho plague case a reminder to safely enjoy outdoor recreation

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A child in southern Idaho’s Elmore County is recovering from the bacterial disease of plague, the first confirmed human case of plague identified in the state since 1992. Epidemiologists with the Central District Health Department said today (June 12, 2018) it is not known whether the child was exposed to plague in Idaho or during a recent trip to Oregon. Plague has historically been found in wildlife in both states. Continue reading →

Russ Barron named to succeed Director Armstrong at Idaho Health and Welfare

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(Boise) — Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter announced the appointment today of Russ Barron, deputy director and a longtime administrator at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, to become director of the State’s largest agency with the previously announced June 30 retirement of Director Richard Armstrong.

Russ Barron

Russ Barron

Barron, who lives in Emmett, has been deputy director since April 2014, overseeing Health and Welfare’s regional directors and the divisions of Welfare and Family and Community Services. He previously was Division of Welfare administrator, statewide program manager for the Child Support Program, Child Support policy manager, financial institution data match coordinator for the Child Support Program, and a self-reliance specialist for the Child Support Program.  Continue reading →

Free workshops offer step-by-step instructions on how to keep radon out of your home

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Banner_RadonClass_2017 (002)Radon is odorless, tasteless, and invisible, so it’s impossible to know without testing if the gas is in your home. Every county in Idaho contains homes that have high levels of radon, so it’s important to know how to keep it out of your home.

During May, homeowners, contractors, and remodelers can learn how to keep the cancer-causing gas out of homes in free workshops at various locations around the state.

The two-hour interactive workshop will explain what radon is, how it enters homes, and what can be done to help prevent excessive amounts of the gas from getting into homes. Exposure to radon gas can increase your risk for lung cancer, particularly if you smoke. Continue reading →

Increase in deaths prompts warning for people to take precautions against the flu 

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Flu deaths are on the rise across Idaho, with this year’s influenza season shaping up to be one of the most severe in recent memory.

“We are aware of 47 influenza-related deaths in Idaho so far this season, which includes 36 verified flu deaths and 11 current reports that are in the process of verification,” said Dr. Leslie Tengelsen, state influenza surveillance coordinator. “This is one of the most severe flu seasons in the state since 2000.”  Continue reading →