Nevada's health care leaders discuss efforts, opportunities to advance care

Panelists included Katie Charleson with Nevada Health Link, Dr. Fermin Leguen with Southern Nevada Health District, Dr. Malinda Southard with Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (DHCFP) and Ireti Fawehinmi with Immunize Nevada. The panel discussion was moderated by Las Vegas Review-Journal's Carrie Roper.

Hosted and organized by Nevada Health Link, the state's online marketplace for affordable and quality health insurance, Charleson addressed the critical need to expand access to health insurance subsidies in Nevada. This funding will help to lower the cost of monthly plans and encourage more Nevadans to get enrolled, which is critical in the case of an emergency - or simply for preventative and wellness protection. As the state's two-and-a-half month Open Enrollment Period is coming to an end in a few days on January 15, she also emphasized the organization's efforts to expand resources and assistance, including rural and non-English speaking populations.

"We have such a diverse state, as far as access goes," Charleson said. "This year, we've expanded our language services, so our enrollment application is now available in Spanish. We also recently launched a tribal sponsorship program with aggregated billing - we're working with rural communities and helping tribal members get insured. As far as resources go, we offer free assistance and have brokers and navigators throughout the state –it's 100% free year-round."

The Division of Health Care Financing and Policy also emphasized efforts to control the cost of health care for Medicaid recipients, while maximizing the value of taxpayer dollars.

"We're working to change how we pay for health care with outcomes, sustainability and quality in mind," said Dr. Southard. "We're doing this by enhancing the use of value-based payment and delivery design with our providers and managed care plans. If done correctly, these efforts can help us drive better outcomes, greater efficiencies and increase quality while getting more value out of the taxpayer dollar."

With 2024 being an election year, Roper asked organizations what legislative priorities individuals should look for and what policies are needed to strengthen public health in Nevada. A main priority among health leaders was the need for funding.

Immunize Nevada emphasized the need for funding proactive measures and research, as underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Emergency preparedness needs a lot of funding," said Fawehinmi. "You can actually save a lot of money when you invest in prevention, versus waiting for outbreaks to happen and then fixing the problem after – it actually costs more money. Representatives able to see these needs and incorporate them into their policies would be a good thing to look out for."

The Southern Nevada Health District also emphasized the need for more funding and remains cautiously optimistic that state legislators can continue to prioritize the needs for public health.

"Funding is our biggest priority because we have to deliver services and resources that our community demands," Dr. Leguen said. "Nevada is one of the lowest states in public health funding. The latest legislative session approved, for the first time, $15 million to support public health for the next two years, which is very important for us."

The discussion addressed opportunities and challenges surrounding health care access and policies, especially among underserved and rural communities across the state; threats Nevada is currently facing in health care and what these organizations are doing to address them; resources available for Nevadans; and what the future of health care looks like in the Silver State.

Roper wrapped up the conversation by asking each panelist how they would describe Nevada health care in a few words. The health leaders summed it up with the following remarks:

"Get health insurance," said Charleson.

"Increase access and quality," said Dr. Southard.

"Knowledge is bliss," said Fawehinmi.

"Funding, funding, funding," said Dr. Leguen.

Each organization offers valuable resources for community members and individuals in need of health care services. Nevadans are encouraged to explore resources available below:

www.nevadahealthlink.com

www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org

www.immunizenevada.org

www.medicaid.nv.gov