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The Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure are making one final nationwide reminder to get Americans to sign up for quality, affordable health insurance on Healthcare.gov before the January 15, 2022 Open Enrollment deadline.

New research released today by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Express Scripts® Pharmacy, an Evernorth company, reveals that amid growing provider shortages, pharmacists in the U.S. are well-trusted by patients and projected to play an increasingly integral role in care management.

COVID-19 infections are soaring again at U.S. nursing homes because of the omicron wave, and deaths are climbing too, leading to new restrictions on family visits and a renewed push to get more residents and staff members vaccinated and boosted.

Many people routinely reach for over-the-counter pain medications for immediate pain relief, especially during cold and flu season. Individuals also may reach for these medications to manage symptoms related to COVID-19. However, most people are unaware that some over-the-counter pain relievers can raise blood pressure. Only six out of 10 (63 percent) of adults with high blood pressure say they check with their doctors before choosing an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, according to a recent survey commissioned by the American Heart Association.

Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) will open its free COVID-19 testing sites to the public this week. The three testing sites at the San Jacinto, Menifee Valley and Temecula Valley campuses are open this week from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and then 7 a.m. to noon Friday. Next week, the testing sites will be open to the public from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. MSJC contracts with Virus Geeks to offer the free testing service.