Governor Lombardo Signs Executive Order to Address Health Care Shortfalls

DEBARYLIFE – Undoubtedly, Nevada’s population continues to rise, with thousands of new residents moving here each year. State officials are searching for solutions to the continuous scarcity of health care in the Silver State because so many people are opting to relocate there.

To examine matters on the state’s healthcare requirements, the Nevada Legislature established the Patient Protection Commission in 2019. A commission to evaluate and offer solutions to the state’s healthcare worker deficit was given further authority by an executive order issued by Governor Joe Lombardo on Friday.

The PPC will now “work to address current challenges with building an adequate health care workforce to care for residents,” as stated in the Executive Order.

Among the areas the Commission will prioritize, according to the directive, are:

Finding and keeping talent to solve issues with the healthcare workforce in rural and urban areas. Improving public health and primary care services accessibility. removing needless administrative barriers from state agencies that impede the recruitment and retention of health care personnel.

To figure out sustainable funding methods, such as encouraging Medicaid reimbursements that are competitive. Making sure that approaches to provider reimbursement that are advised are founded on payment models that reward and encourage greater value for the taxpayer’s money and higher quality.

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To determine methods for assessing both future and current state investments aimed at enhancing the number and capability of the state’s medical workforce. 69.7% of Nevadans reside in primary medical care shortage areas, or HPSAs, as defined by the federal government, according to a 2023 study conducted by the Nevada Health Workforce Research Center.

There are shortages in 64 out of 89 healthcare vocations, according to the survey, when looking specifically at Clark County. Pediatricians, psychiatrists, and community health workers are the top three professions where there is a shortage.