Health Care
Board punts probe of unlicensed prison medical director to AG
It took the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners three months to determine it has no jurisdiction over Dr. Kenneth Williams, medical director of Nevada’s prisons, who has been practicing medicine without a license since September of last year when he joined the Department. In February, the Current reported Williams, who served as medical director of […]
Nevada’s physician shortage may be self-induced, say experts
The chronic shortage of medical providers in Nevada may have more to do with turf protection and overzealous regulation than with the state’s desirability as a place to practice, according to some experts. The Nevada Board of Medical Examiners “has gone off the rails,” Las Vegas attorney Keith Weaver proclaimed during public comment at a […]
Clark County health rankings improve, but physicians per capita still well below U.S. average
The social and economic factors driving health outcomes for Clark County residents are among the worst in the state, but the community has seen some improvements on life expectancy and smoking rates, according to health officials. The Southern Nevada Health District released its 2024 County Health Rankings on Wednesday and heard from agencies like the […]
Rosen, Cortez Masto ask HHS to improve tribal access to mental health services
Nevada U.S. Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto called on Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra to improve tribal access to federal mental health services via a letter sent on March 14. The Indian Health Service is “the agency tasked with providing direct public health support to members of Tribal […]
Nevada gets federal approval to test out Medicaid funds for housing
Nevada Medicaid recently received federal approval to use funds to cover housing and supportive services through Medicaid’s managed care providers. The pilot program will help an estimated 20,300 Nevadans who had identified themselves as homeless when applying for Medicaid. As the state implements the program, it is also seeking approval from the federal government to […]
GOP U.S. Sen. Lankford of Oklahoma blocks bill expanding IVF for vets, service members
WASHINGTON — Washington state Democratic Sen. Patty Murray tried to pass a bill Tuesday that would expand access to in vitro fertilization for military service members and veterans, but Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford raised an objection and prevented the legislation from moving forward. “The recent chaos in Alabama caused by far-right ideology put a […]
UMC, Culinary Health warn of private equity’s ‘endless pursuit of profits over patients’
Nevadans in need of health care are experiencing the negative impacts of corporate consolidation and private equity investment groups “driven by an endless pursuit of profits over patients,” state lawmakers were told Monday. “The market is starting to feel the effects of what medicine run by faceless corporations can mean to patients,” University Medical Center […]
Clark County buys unused psych hospital to create behavioral health crisis stabilization center
Clark County purchased a 24-bed psychiatric hospital for $10.4 million this week. It plans to turn the property into a crisis stabilization unit pilot program to open later this year, according to Clark County Deputy Manager Abigail Frierson. Crisis stabilization units are small facilities that offer short-term behavioral health care including psychiatric stabilization and substance […]
Federal designation allows Reno Sparks Tribal Health Center more access to specialists
The Reno Sparks Tribal Health Center announced its designation Thursday as a Tribal Federally Qualified Health Center, which allows it to pay higher reimbursement rates to specialists providing care. The designation is in collaboration with the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. “Tribal patients will have an easier time accessing care, and I hope […]
State launches committee to review deaths of vulnerable adults
In an attempt to uncover policy gaps that might have contributed to the death of people with physical and mental disabilities, the state recently began a committee to review fatalities of vulnerable adults. The findings are expected to highlight systemic barriers and recommend policy changes, but the committee won’t be investigating care facilities or individuals […]
Businesses bailing on NV because of new paid leave law, economic development officials claim
A new paid family medical leave requirement for companies receiving tax breaks from the state continues to receive pushback from economic development officials, who say the policy is hindering their efforts to relocate and expand business in Nevada. In order to qualify for tax abatements through Nevada Governor’s Office for Economic Development, companies with more […]
Report tackles state’s deep-rooted health care problems
Nevada’s first-ever statewide “health improvement plan” examines inadequacies that have long bedeviled the state, and makes several policy recommendations designed to improve the health of Nevadans. The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health released the plan in collaboration with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Public Health Tuesday. The Silver State Health Improvement […]