Governor Lombardo is seeking the assistance of the Patient Protection Commission to tackle Nevada’s shortage of healthcare professionals. In an executive order issued on Friday, Lombardo emphasized the importance of the PPC focusing on building a strong and adequate healthcare workforce to meet the needs of residents. Currently, Nevada ranks 45th in the nation for the ratio of active physicians to its population.
The state’s aging population and lack of primary care providers are major challenges that need to be addressed urgently. With about 70% of the state’s population living in areas with a shortage of primary care providers, attracting and retaining healthcare workers is a top priority for Lombardo. The governor has tasked the PPC with evaluating data and best practices to improve access to primary care and public health services, removing obstacles to recruiting and retaining workers, identifying funding options to strengthen the healthcare workforce, and ensuring strategies for increasing reimbursement incentivize better quality and value for taxpayers.
One significant barrier preventing some providers from working in Nevada is licensing requirements and the state’s lack of reciprocity agreements with other states. The state’s aging population further complicates matters as about one-third of Nevada physicians are 60 years old or older. To address this issue, organizations such as the American Dental Association and National Center for Interstate Compacts have presented reciprocity compact proposals for dentists and dental hygienists to state lawmakers this month.
Overall, Governor Lombardo’s executive order underscores the urgent need for strategic solutions to tackle Nevada’s healthcare workforce challenges and improve the quality of care for residents.
