CareSource and Three Square Food Bank unite to tackle hunger in Southern Nevada
Three Square Community Kitchen
CareSource employees volunteer at Three Square
LAS VEGAS, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, CareSource Nevada, a nonprofit managed care organization recently selected to implement Nevada's Medicaid Managed Care Program, awarded Three Square Food Bank a $10,000 donation and a Heart of the Community Award.
The award, recognizing exceptional commitment to improving health and well-being in communities, was presented during a volunteer event at Three Square's headquarters, where more than 100 CareSource team members packed hundreds of meals and grocery product for the one in six Southern Nevadans facing hunger.
CareSource's volunteer efforts and financial support reflect a shared commitment to addressing food insecurity and enhancing the well-being of underserved Nevadans through the consideration of social determinants of health.
'With prices going up and more people struggling to make ends meet, the need for food assistance in our community keeps growing,' said Beth Martino, president and CEO of Three Square. 'Thanks to partners like CareSource, we can keep helping more people and stay focused on our mission to make sure everyone has dignified access to the food they need. Together, we're making a real difference.'
Food insecurity remains a significant challenge across Southern Nevada, with 16% of Clark County residents experiencing limited access to nutritious food. In the rural counties of Esmeralda, Lincoln, and Nye, also served by Three Square, rates range from 13.6% to 21.94%. To fully meet the need, an estimated 57.8 million additional meals are required annually to close the gap left by federal nutrition programs and charitable resources.
'At CareSource, we believe health care goes beyond doctor visits; it's about building a healthier foundation for life,' said Jayme Puu, chief executive officer, CareSource Nevada. 'The donation and volunteering we provided to Three Square today are just the beginning of our long-term investment in Nevada's families.'
###
CareSource Nevada CareSource Nevada Co. (CareSource Nevada) is a nonprofit managed care organization that seeks to provide access to high-quality care to Nevada Medicaid and Nevada Check-Up-eligible residents of the Silver State. Supported by CareSource's national managed health plan experience, CareSource Nevada transforms health care for Nevadans throughout the state through innovative programs that address the social determinants of health, prevention and access to care. Through its provider network and partnerships with community-based organizations in every region of Nevada, CareSource Nevada delivers care with heart.
Learn more at https://healthiernevada.com/.
About Three Square Food BankFounded in 2007 with a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and inspired by founder Eric Hilton, Three Square is Southern Nevada's only food bank and the largest hunger-relief organization serving Las Vegas and all of Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda, and Nye counties. Since opening in 2007, Three Square has provided more than 644 million pounds of food to hundreds of thousands of people in need, earning a reputation as one of the most efficient and effective food banks in the nation. Three Square is a community-wide collaboration, partnering with businesses, nonprofit organizations, food distributors, higher education institutions, the Clark County School District, government agencies, the media, and thousands of volunteers to support food-insecure Southern Nevadans. Last year alone, Three Square provided more than 49 million pounds of food— the equivalent of over 41 million meals— through its network of 150 community partners. As a proud member of the Feeding America network, Three Square remains committed to providing wholesome food to those in need while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. If you or someone you know needs food assistance, or wants to learn more about Three Square's vision of a community where no one is hungry, please connect at threesquare.org, Facebook (@ThreeSquareFoodBank), Instagram (@threesquarelv) and X (@threesquarelv).
Attachments
Three Square Community Kitchen
CareSource employees volunteer at Three Square
CONTACT: Hannah Krafka CareSource 937-751-4862 hannah.krafka@caresource.com Joe Ham Three Square 702.644.3663 x 333 jham@threesquare.orgSign in to access your portfolio
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
County lauds intake center to help unhoused, but federal funding cuts threaten resources
Steven Martin, left, and Justin Golden, are receiving resources at the Navigation Center, which helps people experiencing homelessness get off the streets. (Photo: Michael Lyle/ Nevada Current) Clark County officials have recently touted its Navigation Center, a 70-bed noncongregate shelter that stabilizes unhoused people before referring them to other transitional housing programs and treatment, as the model that could help address Southern Nevada's growing homelessness crisis. Speaking at an event Wednesday honoring its two-year anniversary since opening the facility, Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom said local officials have discussed replicating the intake center valley wide. It's still uncertain how the slashing of federal funding, including major cuts to Medicaid, might undermine the county's goal to build additional centers and connect unhoused people staying at those facilities to services. Many of the resources provided through the Navigation Center, like referrals to health care providers or mental health treatment, are paid through various types of federal funding, including Medicaid, Segerblom said. The county is taking into account 'what we will potentially lose' from all the federal cuts, he added. 'We are all terrified, frankly,' Segerblom said. 'We are very aware all this is on a house of cards.' President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' that was signed into law this month features steep reductions to the social safety net, including major cuts to Medicaid and food benefits. Nevada stands to lose about $590 million annually in federal Medicaid funding for the next 10 years and more than 114,500 Nevadans are estimated to lose coverage, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Trump is also proposing additional cuts in his 2026 fiscal budget across various agencies, including slashing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development budget by more than 40%. The cuts include a $532 million decrease in homeless assistance programs and a consolidation of several grants, like those provided by the federal Continuum of Care program that states use to address homelessness. John Fernandez, program manager with WC Health, which the county contracts to provide case management at the Navigation Center, said they are still waiting to learn how cuts could impact operations and efforts to refer people to services. 'If they don't have Medicaid, it will make it difficult for them to receive any mental health providers or even doctors and get some of the assistance they need,' he said. Stabilizing people The Navigation Center is located in East Las Vegas in a former Motel 6, which was converted into the 70-bed intake center with semi-private rooms for unhoused people. During the height of Covid when it wasn't safe for unhoused people to remain in large, congregate spaces like emergency shelters, the county converted former motels into noncongregate shelters. Since opening in 2023, the Navigation Center has been used by the county as a starting place for people seeking to exit homelessness. They are usually referred to the facility by either a service provider or law enforcement. Once at the center, people can stay roughly 30 days, receive required case management twice a week, are assisted with getting vital documents like birth certificates, and begin to get connected to other housing resources or mental health assessments and treatment. 'It gives them a chance to decompress from being unsheltered and then moving on where they can get more intensive wrap-around services and focus on long term housing solutions,' said Brenda Barnes, the social services manager. The county said that nearly 1,800 people have cycled through the center since it opened. While county officials said they are tracking what services people are referred to, how many were housed and recidivism rates of how many end up on the streets, they didn't provide those figures Wednesday. For Justin Golden, a 37-year-old staying at the Navigation Center, the facility has become the place he has needed to stabilize his life. After being released from City of Las Vegas jail in early June, he began couch-surfing as he tried to get connected to resources, like getting a new EBT card for his Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and finding employment. Three weeks ago, while sleeping in a park in Henderson, outreach workers from the Salvation Army referred him to the Navigation Center, he said. Golden lost his identification when he was arrested and struggled to get new documents since he was released, delaying the process of exiting homelessness. Less than three weeks into his time at the Navigation Center, he has been able to start collecting the documents needed and plans to transfer to another transitional housing program offered by the county by the end of the month. Since coming to the center, Golden has shared a room with 27-year-old Steven Martin, who has been experiencing homelessness for nearly a year after moving to Southern Nevada from California. Because of a criminal record, Martin said he has struggled to find employment and earn enough money to get back on his feet. He didn't know where to turn, or where he could get resources, until he was referred to the Navigation Center by a provider. Martin also plans to go to a 90-day transitional housing program after his time is done at the Navigation Center. Though Fernandez has seen the center has been successful, he said the facility is often at capacity. The other noncongregate shelters he refers people to for the next part of their efforts to exit homelessness are also reaching capacity. It will likely create a backlog in the system. 'I think if we could open up another navigation center it would be beneficial for everyone,' he said. 'At this point, we are getting to a capacity where we can't take too many people in. We only have 70 beds here. All the other properties are getting full as well. If we're not able to transition people in 30 days to another property, then we can't take more people.' While opening the navigation center is one of the many steps the county is taking to address the homelessness crisis, the lack of permanent housing remains a fierce and stubborn barrier to addressing homelessness in Southern Nevada, Segerblom said. 'We need more housing,' he said.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- USA Today
Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei explains yes vote on Trump's budget bill, Medicaid changes
Only one member of Congress from Nevada voted in favor of President Donald Trump's budget bill and its Medicaid cuts: Rep. Mark Amodei. Trump plans to sign the bill into law at 2 p.m. Pacific time July 4. After the U.S. House approved the bill July 3, Amodei released a lengthy statement explaining his decision to support what he called historic legislation to address the Biden administration's mismanagement. 'As with any major reform bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill is a balancing act,' he said, referring to its legislative name inspired by Trump's language. 'I have long believed that we can't let perfect be the enemy of good, and our work won't stop here in getting Nevadans the relief they need.' Amodei disputed claims the bill is only a handout to the wealthy and characterized it as helping everyday working families. Amodei's bill highlights Among Amodei's highlights for the bill are that: 'Claims that this bill harms veterans are nothing more than political scare tactics and gaslighting,' he said. 'The legislative text contains no provisions explicitly targeting veterans, and veterans receiving VA benefits will continue to do so without interruption.' Amodei on Medicaid changes Amodei, a Republican who represents the top half of Nevada, noted that discussions around the bill have focused on Medicaid. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Nevada Democrat, hammered the bill the day before its passage, calling it 'mean and cruel.' She noted that estimates show 114,500 Nevadans are expected to lose health care coverage. Northern Nevada HOPES, which serves low-income patients, said the bill will force a 30% reduction in the number of people it can said Medicaid has exploded in size since it started in 1965. 'Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act,' his news release said, 'Medicaid has shifted away from its original mission of serving the traditional low-income population, evolving instead into a de facto state-run universal healthcare system.' In fiscal year 2023, he said, Nevada spent 30% of its budget on Medicaid, $5.6 billion. 'The One Big Beautiful Bill addresses and reins in these excessive Medicaid costs by establishing commonsense work requirements for able-bodied adults without young dependents,' Amodei said. 'In addition, the bill strengthens program integrity measures that protect Medicaid resources for the most vulnerable such as children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and low-income families.' More: 'Cruel' Medicaid cuts in Trump budget bill cuts to hurt Nevada, Sen. Cortez Masto says Funding for rural hospitals There's a balancing act, he said, between reining in out-of-control Medicaid spending and protecting Nevada's hospitals and health clinics. To offset decreases in Medicaid funding for hospitals, Republicans added the Rural Hospital Stabilization Fund to the bill. This, Amodei said, 'will provide $50 billion in relief from 2028 through 2032 for rural hospitals.' Pat Kelly of the Nevada Hospital Association said it's unclear how much help it'll bring. At Cortez Masto's news conference, Kelly said that the federal budget bill's changes to the provider tax rate will decrease hospital funds. 'The total effect by state fiscal year 2029 on Nevada hospitals,' he said, 'will be a loss of $618 million in payments.' Kelly noted the $50 billion fund mentioned by Amodei in the federal budget bill. 'But that provision,' he said, 'is not just for rural hospitals. It's for all providers in rural areas so we're not sure how much is going to be available for hospitals. If there's a group that truly needs our support, it's our rural hospitals.' Amodei said the bill gives the state two years to prepare for changes to the Medicaid provider tax supporting hospitals. 'A perfect solution to healthcare costs has eluded us again,' he said, 'but it will be interesting to see what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services do with implementation of these new Medicaid policies and future rules and regulations. 'I look forward to continuing to work with CMS, the Nevada Health Authority, and our local stakeholders on these issues.' Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@ or comment on Mark's Greater Reno Facebook page.
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Forbes
Adopting AI Agents In Healthcare: A New Era Of Intelligent Care
Rajiv Kumaresan, RPA Technology Lead, Architect, Intelligent Automation & AI Automation Expert at UiPath AI25 Award Recipient, CareSource. In recent years, the healthcare industry has undergone a dramatic transformation, with AI taking center stage. Among the most promising developments in this space is the emergence of AI agents—intelligent systems designed to perform specific tasks autonomously or assist humans in complex workflows. AI agents are autonomous systems capable of perceiving their environment, processing information, making decisions and taking actions. In the clinical and administrative domains, AI agents can interpret medical images and diagnostics, summarize patient data from electronic health records (EHRs), automate scheduling, billing and claims processing, assist in real-time patient monitoring and triage and engage in natural language conversations with patients via chatbots, autopilot and virtual nurses. The global healthcare industry stands at a defining crossroads, tasked with improving patient outcomes, reducing operational costs and addressing clinician burnout—all while managing the explosion of medical data and patient expectations. The adoption of AI agents in healthcare is an essential strategy for institutions that seek efficiency, agility and smarter care delivery. It goes beyond just implementing a software solution; it's about integrating intelligent capabilities into the healthcare ecosystem to drive outcomes. AI agents are transforming efficiency in key areas of the healthcare industry. By analyzing massive datasets—from lab results to radiology images—and providing decision support to clinicians, AI agents can reduce diagnostic errors, flag anomalies early and help personalize treatment plans. For instance, AI-powered diagnostic assistants can review radiographs or MRIs and detect patterns that may escape even the trained human eye, often with remarkable speed and precision. The healthcare sector is notoriously burdened with administrative overhead. AI agents streamline workflows by automating repetitive tasks—freeing up time for healthcare professionals to focus more on direct patient care and reducing operational costs. Conversational AI agents or virtual health assistants can interact with patients 24/7. These agents can answer common medical queries, remind patients about medication or gather preconsultation data. This not only improves patient engagement but also offloads routine tasks from clinical staff, improving overall care continuity. AI agents integrated with IoT-enabled wearables can continuously monitor patients with chronic conditions, alerting healthcare providers in real time about deteriorating vitals. Agents can also be equipped to triage symptoms and recommend next steps, potentially reducing ER visits and hospital readmissions. When designed and deployed responsibly, AI agents can augment human intelligence rather than replace it, creating a collaborative ecosystem that leverages the best of both. They can unlock new levels of efficiency, accuracy and responsiveness across the care continuum. In our organization, I am involved in developing AI agents for various use cases. One of the most impactful initiatives we are currently focusing on is medical record summarization. We are building an AI agent capable of summarizing extensive medical records within the clinical domain. This can offer significant time savings for registered nurses, medical directors and other healthcare professionals. By incorporating citations at the summary level, users can easily reference specific sections of the original document. This is facilitated through a human-in-the-loop (HITL) approach, enabling clinicians to quickly validate summaries without reading through the entire document. Moreover, the summarization process can be customized using natural language models and GenAI capabilities, allowing the output to be tailored to standardized formats and specific information needs. This flexibility enhances usability and ensures the solution aligns with clinical workflows and compliance standards. Despite the clear benefits, integrating AI agents into healthcare systems comes with challenges: • Data Privacy And Security: Sensitive patient information must be handled with the highest level of compliance (e.g., HIPAA in the U.S. and the GDPR in the EU). • Bias And Fairness: AI models must be trained on diverse datasets to avoid biased outcomes. • Clinical Trust: Gaining trust from medical professionals requires transparency, interpretability and proven efficacy. • Integration Complexity: Seamless integration with legacy systems remains a hurdle for many organizations. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve with increasing patient expectations, growing data complexity and mounting operational pressures, organizations that proactively adopt AI-driven solutions will be better equipped to deliver high-quality, personalized and scalable care. These forward-thinking providers can expect to improve clinical outcomes and enhance workforce productivity and patient satisfaction, setting a new standard for care delivery in the digital age. AI agents will be increasingly woven into the fabric of healthcare, extending far beyond back-office automation. Often working silently in the background, these agents will support clinicians and engage patients at the right moments, ensuring care is more proactive, precise and continuous. This quiet yet powerful integration of AI agents into healthcare workflows signals a shift from reactive care models to intelligent, anticipatory systems that are better aligned with the needs of modern healthcare. This shift holds the promise of a future where healthcare is not only more efficient but also more humane, accessible and outcomes-driven. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
