Health Insurance

The Nevada Business Group on Health announces its Building Common Knowledge presentation on the topic of Value-Based Benefit Design, a health benefit savings strategy that draws on a variety of incentive strategies that address the way health insurance plans are structured and utilized by employees and their dependents.

The seminar, led by benefit design thought-leader and Executive Director of the Mississippi Business Group on Health, Murray Harber will be held at noon at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino on June 12, 2014.

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada's health insurance exchange is cutting ties with Xerox and will partner with the federal government for the upcoming year.

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Overseers of Nevada's troubled health insurance exchange will be weighing several options and could make a decision on how to fix the system in time for the 2015 open enrollment period.

A state board overseeing Nevada’s bungled health insurance exchange will discuss options to minimize the state’s exposure in a class-action lawsuit, including invoking a contract provision that could put the legal onus on Xerox.

Immunize Nevada and the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health met Tuesday at Carson Tahoe Women’s Health Institute for an event to educate Nevadans about Text4baby and to encourage expecting and first time mothers to do something for themselves this Mother’s Day and enroll in Text4baby.

The speakers, including Senator Ben Kieckhefer, from Washoe District 16; Vickie Ives, a representative from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health; and Julia Peek, a mother of two and Text4baby user, spoke about the benefits of the program in helping build strong Nevada families.

Nevada enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act was 45,390 from Oct. 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday.

Nevada's enrollment includes “in line” and other enrollment activity such as people enrolling due to a change in life circumstance reported through Saturday, April 19, 2014.

Nationwide, enrollment surged to eight million at the end of the first enrollment period, said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — There is no quick fix for Nevada's troubled health insurance exchange, but speedy action by state officials on whatever course they decide to pursue is needed to prepare for the next open enrollment period this fall.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - A state board has delayed setting monthly policy fees to be charged next year for policies purchased over Nevada's health insurance exchange.

The Silver State Health Insurance Exchange might still be having problems processing health insurance applications, but the portion of the website that sends Medicaid-eligible applicants to the state Welfare Division is working better than expected.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — A state board will try to predict how many people will sign up for health coverage through Nevada's health insurance exchange in the upcoming year.

The executive director of the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange is resigning. Jon Hager, who came under fire in a Feb. 13 exchange board meeting for cutting March 31 enrollment goals from 118,000 to 50,000, left the agency Thursday afternoon.

The executive director of Nevada's health insurance exchange says meeting a lower enrollment target will still be challenging.

The Nevada Business Group on Health, a non-profit organization dedicated to representing more than 70 Northern Nevada employers and their employees in matter related to cost-effective health, health care and health insurance products and services, has appointed Denise Darling, director of finance at Carson Nugget Casino in Carson City, to its board of directors.

Anybody remember the lyrics to the Wizard of Oz song about the Yellow Brick Road?

“You’re off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. You’ll find he is a Whiz of a Wiz if ever a Wiz there was. If ever, oh ever, a Wiz there was the Wizard of Oz is one because. Because, because, because, because, because. Because of the wonderful things he does. You’re off to see the wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

The Nevada Division of Insurance announced Wednesday that it would not extend canceled health care policies because doing so would conflict with both state law and federal laws.
Here is a statement below from the Nevada Division of Insurance:

Gov. Brian Sandoval said Tuesday the state made the right decision when it decided to move forward with the creation of its own health exchange to comply with the new federal health care law.

Nevada has 513 people who have paid for or who have scheduled payments for health insurance. When the 1,484 people who have confirmed enrollments and who will soon get a bill in the mail are counted, the total is just under 2,000.

Employers wanting to know about what to expect from the Affordable Care Act are invited to a Carson City luncheon next month hosted by the Nevada Business Group on Health.

The “Look into Your Future” luncheon on Dec. 4 will feature guest speaker Russ Sullivan, attorney and vice president of Health Care Solutions for the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, who will present an interactive session that draws upon lessons from Massachusetts’ seven-year health care reform experience. Sullivan will provide insight into how to prepare for the changes ahead.

Douglas County has re-launched last year’s popular budget challenge again, inviting citizens to an online conversation that will harness their input on the County budget.

Residents can participate in one of the budgeting exercises centered on the question, “How would you spend $500 to fund what is most important to you in Douglas County?”

Residents will also have the opportunity to make general comments about the budget process, upload photos or videos to illustrate their concerns or suggestions and put a value on the priorities they think are most important.

To the editor: We all were exposed to “Political Theatre” at its best and worst. The drama, fear mongering, and name-calling, with the same old threats seems old and tired today. It was a very bad, long movie, especially because everybody knew how it would end. But, we went ahead and spent millions to display the ineptness of our entire Government.

CARSON CITY — Now that open enrollment has begun for health insurance plans affected by the Affordable Care Act, Nevadans need to be wary of scammers looking to take advantage of consumer’s uncertainty surrounding this law.

by CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON Starting in 2014, the Affordable Care Act – or “Obamacare” – will require that Americans have health insurance. Any citizen without insurance – with very few exceptions – will have to pay a fine if they do... Read More ›

Julian, 5, is diagnosed with cerebral palsy and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that is difficult to treat. He has many different types of seizures multiple times a day. The journey to control his seizures has been difficult and on-going. The fundraiser will help raise money for alternative medicine that is not covered by health insurance. The fundraiser is free, and includes music, food, beer, wine, balloon twisting, and face painting. There will also be a silent auction from 6 -8 p.m. with great prizes. Everyone in the community is invited and encouraged to attend.

One in five. That’s how many Nevadans did not have health insurance in 2011.
By 2012, the number grew closer to one in four as Nevada catapulted to third place nationwide for its rate of uninsured people, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Only Texas and Louisiana were worse.

Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to access resources and learn more about overcoming the issues and challenges of launching or expanding a business during the Governor’s Conference on Small Business 2013. The annual statewide conference, taking place in Reno for the first time on August 28 at the Grand Sierra Resort, will provide a comprehensive one-stop resource for information on funding, licensing, regulatory compliance and much more.

Carson City patrol officers who stopped a Suburban for speeding on Monday morning found drugs and burglary tools inside the vehicle set to be impounded.

Two men were arrested and face multiple charges. The arrests were made at 7:24 a.m. in the 1000 block of Fairview. Alex Matthew Silva, 26, of Dayton faces felony drug possession charges and misdemeanor possession of burglary tools. The other is a 28-year-old Sparks man who faces misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor charges.

Insurance and healthcare reform information is available through a new website launched by the Nevada Division of Insurance.

The website provides Nevada consumers with comprehensive information about insurance and healthcare reform in Nevada. Members of the insurance industry will also find information about doing business in Nevada.

Nevada son and United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid addressed a joint session of the Nevada State Legislature today in Carson City. Here is the text of his speech:

Carson City attorney Jackie Bryant will join Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval's team as Deputy Chief of Staff beginning Feb. 19. She will replace Ann Wilkinson, who has served as Sandoval's Deputy Chief of Staff since January 2011.
Wilkinson is leaving to return to the practice of law, effective Feb. 20.

CARSON CITY – Nevada policy holders recovered nearly $4 million in 2012 from insurance companies through the efforts of the Nevada Division of Insurance.
A recovery is the amount of monetary compensation or relief received by a consumer as a result of a filed consumer complaint against an insurance company. The division recovered $3,998,508.

This is a letter I sent out to Gov. Sandoval, and multiple other State Representatives. I felt that the general public should know what our prison system is doing to multiple small business owners in Carson City and Nevada. I would be very pleased if someone would bring this to light and show what our tax dollars are doing in this economy. There was a big story about this in Vegas with another company ... but this is also happening in our own backyard.

Dear Governor Sandoval,