7 days ago
Nevada Gov. Lombardo urges health care act's passage after visiting doctor treats grandson
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A visiting doctor treated Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo's grandson during an emergency last year, which the governor said highlights the need for more medical professionals across the state.
'Adequate and timely access to health care remains a pressing challenge for many Nevadans, including myself and my family,' Lombardo, a Republican, said during a hearing Tuesday for his Nevada Healthcare Access Act. 'Just last year, my young grandson was hospitalized for a serious ear infection. He needed emergency surgery, but there wasn't a doctor at any hospital in Southern Nevada who was equipped to perform the procedure he needed.'
A surgeon from Texas visiting Nevada treated the boy, Lombardo said.
'Nevadans seeking medical care face long wait times and have trouble accessing specialists. The need for more doctors, nurses, specialists and health care providers is increasingly evident,' Lombardo said.
His proposal, Senate Bill 495, is intended to streamline health services across the state, expand mental health services and grow the medical workforce.
Nevada holds one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the nation, ranking 48th in the country, according to 2023 data by the National Library of Medicine. The governor's bill looks to tackle the shortage by honing in on residency programs and increasing their funding.
One group opposing the bill, the Nevada Dental Hygienists' Association, acknowledges the workforce shortage but believes the removal of some requirements in the bill, as written, would reduce patient care because it allows for on-the-job training.
No vote was recorded on the bill as of Tuesday afternoon. The legislative session ends June 2.
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