The fight to implement a public health care option in Nevada continues, but the insurance and health care industry allies said Monday that a public option would exacerbate the state’s shortage of health care providers and reduce access to care. published a report claiming that it will reduce
A division of the Partnership for America’s Healthcare Future (PAHCF). The organization represents the nation’s largest hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies.commissioned the research.
Following the release of this report, Nevada doctors expressed the following opinion: The Health Care Protection Committee, a national group of physicians, medical professionals, and advocates, found that the PAHCF analysis “used flawed data to produce skewed results” and that the authors “refused to have the analysis peer reviewed.” criticized this analysis.
PAHCF opposed the Public Option Act when it was enacted in 2021 and has advocated against it. Public options and health care industry reform in other states and across the country.
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo called the public option “BullshitIn the course of the campaign, people opposed to its implementation rallied, called for its abolition during his State of the Union address.
“Governor Lombardo shared his beliefs about this law on the campaign trail and in his State of the Union address. These findings confirm that he was correct. Because he refused to make any changes, Nevadans now face the threat of harm to our state’s health care system,” Lombardo’s chief of staff, Ben Kiechhefer, said in a statement Monday..
Last month, Lombardo announced plans to “transform” the state’s public option into a “market stabilization program” by prioritizing federal funds available through the government. State Innovation Waiver Program Funds reinsurance programs for private companies operating in the individual market under the Affordable Care Act. Lombardo said at the time that reinsurance for private companies is “a proven way to protect consumers.”
The Lombardo administration’s overhaul of the program would also provide incentives to “high-performing insurance companies” that offer public option plans.
“To mitigate these threats, the Governor has proposed a reinsurance program to offset some of the losses from the public option, but ideally the Legislature will revisit this issue when it reconvenes in 2025. I guess,” Kieckhefer said Monday. .
under Laws enacted in 2021, be A state-controlled public health insurance option is expected to be created by 2026, with the goal of reducing premiums by 16% over five years. To reduce costs, the program will reimburse providers at lower rates than private insurance companies.
PAHCF report They argue that the bill’s required premium reductions cannot be fully achieved in the state.
PAHCF’s report states that hospital reimbursement reductions required to achieve the premium reductions covered by the public option are “likely to result in financial hardship for hospitals.”
The report said lowering premiums to meet targets would also harm insurers, adding: “If there was a business case for lowering premiums to such competitive levels, , market forces would have already been driving premium reductions,” he added.
Report evaluation contrasts with report Prepared for State Department of Health and Human Services In December 2022. Its actuarial report states that because the individuals who benefit from the public option represent only about 3% to 4% of the state’s population and account for a small portion of provider revenue, the public option is considered a “There will be a slight negative impact on earnings.” .
Premium rates on state-based health care exchanges have increased by an average of 2.8% over the past year, while premium rates on state-based health care exchanges have increased by 5.9%. According to the Nevada Department of Insurance.
“Physicians and patients worked hard to make the Nevada Public Option a reality, and now we are asking health plans to stop blocking access to affordable health care.” said Dr. Harpreet Tsui, a Las Vegas internist and leader of the Nevada Public Option. The Medical Protection Board said in a statement: “But as health insurance premiums continue to rise, it is more important than ever that Nevadans have access to affordable, quality insurance,” Tsui said.
