Sisolak Administration Key Facts: Healthcare
Under Governor Sisolak’s leadership, the Silver State led the way in expanding access to lifesaving health care services, lowering costs, and creating a healthy, vibrant Nevada.
In the SOTS, Governor Sisolak announced Nevada will join the Northwest Prescription Drug Consortium to hold major drug corporations accountable and lower the cost of prescription drugs for all Nevada families and establish a health care workforce taskforce to provide additional support for frontline workers.
During his first term, Governor Sisolak:
● Signed legislation barring insurance companies from refusing coverage based on pre-existing health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or cancer.
● In 2019, Nevada became one of the first states to end “surprise billing” by hospitals and medical providers by capping the amount out-of-network providers can charge to no more than a patient’s insurance co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible.
● Took on medical debt collectors and took steps to protect consumers by limiting the amount of fines, fees, and attorneys costs that can be piled on to medical debt, and ensuring that families have breathing room to pay their bills.
● Signed into law a bill making Nevada only the second state to adopt a public health insurance option, which will make quality care more affordable for Nevadans.
Governor Sisolak also supported Nevadans by protecting reproductive health care services, expanding mental health funding, and finding ways to make healthcare more affordable.
● Governor Sisolak is a leader in protecting reproductive freedom. While states around the country are limiting reproductive rights, the governor signed legislation to decriminalize abortion in the state and allocate $6 million towards family planning services.
● In 2019, the Nevada legislature approved the governor’s budget request calling for approximately $40 million, including $8 million in general fund dollars, to add an additional seven Community-Based Behavioral Health Clinics across the state.
● The governor established a Patient Protection Commission, an 11-member panel tasked with studying an array of health care issues. The Commission can submit three bill requests per legislative session.
Additionally, during Nevada’s two and a half month open enrollment period that ended earlier this year, 100,000 Nevadans signed up for health insurance through Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. This marked a 25% increase from the previous year’s open enrollment period.
The governor remains committed to ensuring Nevadans can stay healthy without breaking the bank.