By Pete Sepp, president of Nevada Taxpayers Union and Senator Robin L. Titus, MD, (R-Wellington, NV) Across the state, Nevadans are rightfully worried about whether they can afford the cost of a major health event. But is a taxpayer-backed health insurance system, which will raise revenues and expenditures for the state in a constitutionally dubious way, really the best … [Read more...] about “Public Option” Doesn’t Bode Well for Nevada’s Taxpayers and Its Constitution
Vital Signs
Improving Healthcare Affordability and QualityEmployers Should Embrace Advanced Primary Care
Three years after the height of COVID, Nevada workers and their families are facing a new set of long-term health challenges – from lack of affordable, accessible health services to lingering chronic conditions that became more pervasive and intense during the pandemic. In Nevada, the combination of these mounting cost and quality pressures has contributed to the state often … [Read more...] about Improving Healthcare Affordability and Quality
What Medicaid Renewal Means for Nevada EmployersEnsuring Continued Coverage for Employees
Starting in April 2023 an estimated 200,000 Nevadans needed to re-qualify for Medicaid for the first time since the COVID Public Health Emergency (PHE) was declared in the Silver State. Many covered by Nevada Medicaid may lose their eligibility for a variety of reasons, including those who started a new job during the PHE but waived employer-sponsored coverage and kept their … [Read more...] about What Medicaid Renewal Means for Nevada Employers
HSAs 101How Health Savings Accounts Benefit Employers and Employees Alike
Dennis Sponer CEO, HSARx It’s no secret that people and businesses like to save money. As a business owner, it’s not only important to save money, but also to be able to create a happy, and healthy, environment for your employees. One of the most popular ways for saving on healthcare is using a health savings account, or HSA. Like many financial programs, the rules … [Read more...] about HSAs 101
How Occupational Health Programs Can Attract and Retain Talent
Brenda Cotton, Work Health Solutions Fringe benefits are additions to compensation, such as stock options, childcare, meal subsidization, transportation, education, professional and personal development, vacations, flexible schedules and more. Although fringe benefits account for more than 30 percent of labor costs according to the Bureau of Labor … [Read more...] about How Occupational Health Programs Can Attract and Retain Talent
Personalized Health GuidanceTo Support Nevada’s Frontline Workers
Chris Cronin is CEO of MOBE. Michelle Sanchez-Bickley is Chief Human Resources Officer of Renown Health. A year into the pandemic, one thing is clear: employers across the country are being challenged to optimize their health and wellness offerings to suit rapidly changing employee needs. Mental health has become an urgent concern for many, and its ripple effect in the … [Read more...] about Personalized Health Guidance
Mental Health in the Age of COVID-19Nevada Employers and their Power to Help
David Robeck is the president and CEO of Bridge Counseling Associates. Employers tout their medical benefits but often avoid an employee’s personal life. Both are important factors for employers to consider, especially now when so many employees are physically distant from their peers. Working from home has many benefits for employees but it has drawbacks as well. Mental … [Read more...] about Mental Health in the Age of COVID-19
Forecasting Major Changes in HealthcareLooming Federal Mandates Will Significantly Impact Nevada Care Providers
In January, Nevada Business Magazine curated a thoughtful group of representatives in the state’s healthcare sector through its monthly industry roundtable. The discussion revealed what top thinkers in the healthcare space had to say about challenges and projections for Nevada healthcare in the coming years. In particular, Mason Van Houweling of University Medical Center … [Read more...] about Forecasting Major Changes in Healthcare
Health Savings AccountsHow They Work, Their Benefits and What Employees Need to Know
Health savings accounts (HSA) are unique, tax-advantaged accounts that can be used to pay for healthcare expenses. When an HSA combines with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), employees see savings and tax advantages above and beyond what traditional health plans offer. So what do employees need to know to take advantage of these plans? First and foremost, in order to … [Read more...] about Health Savings Accounts
Vital SignsHealthy Nevada Project Statewide Initiative Seeks to Improve Population Health
A project that began in 2016 through a partnership with Renown Health and the Desert Research Institute (DRI), Healthy Nevada has gained national attention for its approach to population health. The study involves harvesting DNA from a significant population, providing individuals with information on their health risks as well data to study population health issues and … [Read more...] about Vital Signs
Meet the New UMC: Strategic Investments, Sound Financial Decisions Drive UMC’s Rapid Turnaround
In recent years, University Medical Center (UMC) has experienced a rapid financial transformation, shedding its negative reputation for heavy reliance on Nevada taxpayers through the implementation of sound strategies to ensure the hospital’s future viability while promoting improved quality of care. UMC now stands as an example of financial stability while continuing to … [Read more...] about Meet the New UMC: Strategic Investments, Sound Financial Decisions Drive UMC’s Rapid Turnaround
A New Way of Thinking About Health in the Silver State
As business leaders, we often rely on metrics like growth and the unemployment rate to gauge our state’s vitality. However, focusing solely on economic indicators is not enough to answer the question, “How are we doing?” We need to consider other metrics that reflect the health of our communities. Today, Nevada ranks 46th among the states for healthcare access, quality, … [Read more...] about A New Way of Thinking About Health in the Silver State
See a Doctor 24/7: Telemedicine Options Create Better Connectivity
My family and I were on vacation in California earlier this year when our youngest suddenly came down with a nasty stomach bug in the middle of the night. Even just a year ago, our only options would’ve been to drive around an unfamiliar city to find an open urgent care or potentially spend hours in an ER waiting room. But thanks to the growth of telemedicine, my wife was … [Read more...] about See a Doctor 24/7: Telemedicine Options Create Better Connectivity
Roseman University Aspires to Create Incubator for Medical Research
In November 2013, Henderson-based Roseman University of Health Sciences completed a merger with the Nevada Cancer Institute Foundation. As a result, Roseman acquired the Ralph and Betty Engelstad Cancer Research Building in Summerlin along with sophisticated research equipment. These resources are advancing the university’s research endeavors and has allowed Roseman University … [Read more...] about Roseman University Aspires to Create Incubator for Medical Research
How Healthy is Nevada?
Here’s the bad news. When it comes to overall health, Nevada ranks in the lower half among all 50 states. That’s according to the 24th annual America’s Health Rankings from United Health Foundation. The report, the longest running of its kind in the country, placed Nevada No. 37 among all 50 states for overall heath, which is the same ranking the state received last year. … [Read more...] about How Healthy is Nevada?