Health Insurance

According to a recent report, rising costs for basic medical procedures is the result of increased acquisition of small physician practices by large hospital corporations. Hospital conglomerates and private equity groups are buying-up independent practices and billing them as a Hospital Outpatient Department (HOPD), which allows them to charge patients the higher hospital facility fees in a non-hospital setting.

The past year has shown us how critical access to affordable quality health insurance is, especially for Nevadans who have lost their jobs and therefore their employer-based health insurance coverage.

Don’t miss the upcoming spring semester at Western Nevada College. The college has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a class “just for fun” or looking to spark an interest to pursue something new.

Gov. Steve Sisolak is proposing a two-year budget that reverses cuts to Medicaid and other key K-12 programs made last summer, after financial projections left the state at what officials are calling an “inconsistent, if not positive, ending point” for tax revenue.

Nevada Health Link, the online health insurance marketplace operated by the state agency, the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange (Exchange), reminds Nevadans that Open Enrollment for a comprehensive, Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant health plan for 2021 ends at 11:59 p.m. today, Jan. 15, 2021.

Consumers who enroll by the deadline will have coverage effective February 1, 2021.

With only four days remaining in Open Enrollment for 2021 health coverage, Nevada Health Link, the online health insurance marketplace operated by the state agency, the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange (Exchange), reminds Nevadans that all plans include access to COVID-19 related diagnosis and treatment, including COVID-19 vaccines when they become available.

CARSON CITY — Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced Monday the appointment of Heather Korbulic as Policy Director for the Governor’s Office, effective Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

With the new year, a new set of laws is once again taking effect.

Of the hundreds of bills the Legislature passed in 2019, nine finally became effective either in whole or in part on Friday with the start of the new year and as the next legislative session is set to begin in February.

CARSON CITY — On Sunday, Nov. 1, the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, the state agency that connects Nevadans to budget-appropriate Qualified Health Plans through the online marketplace known as Nevada Health Link, kicked off its eighth Open Enrollment Period and its second year operating as a State Based Exchange.

The next Carson City School Board meeting will be held Tuesday, Oct. 27 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Among the items for discussion are a report on return to school measures, a possible bond resolution, activities and summer projects.

The Nevada Division of Insurance posted final approved health insurance rates on its website here. As Open Enrollment approaches, consumers can begin comparing health insurance plans and rates a month ahead of Open Enrollment which starts November 1, 2020.

The Ron Wood Family Resource Center has received a 2020 CARES Act COVID-19 Relief Act funding grant from Carson City. The purpose of this grant is to assist Carson City residents with COVID-19 related needs.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Division of Insurance has received and made public rate information from health insurance companies interested in participating in the individual health insurance market for Plan Year 2021 (PY21).

The Silver State Health Insurance Exchange (Exchange), the state agency that connects Nevadans to Qualified Health Plans through the online State Based Exchange (SBE), known as Nevada Health Link, announces the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for Plan Year 2021 will run from November 1 through January 15, 2021 – extending the traditional OEP by an additional 30 days and giving consumers a total of 75 days to enroll in a comprehensive health care plan.

Laws implementing a wide range of criminal justice reforms, establishing a state board responsible for regulating marijuana and creating a payday loan database finally take effect Wednesday, more than a year after the 2019 legislative session ended.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak notified state employees Thursday of proposed plans to address the projected Fiscal Year 2021 budget shortfall.

Preliminary estimates indicate approximately a $900 million General Fund shortfall, when combined with the Distributive School Account, the revenue shortfall increases up to $1.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2021. The estimated revenue shortfall represents a significant percentage of the state’s overall $4.5 billion operating appropriations for the fiscal year.

Nevadans who have recently lost their job or had a change in income that threatens being able to pay for coverage may be eligible to receive subsidy assistance for their health plans, the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange noted Monday as a reminder to those who may become uninsured.

Although most retail businesses in the state were allowed to open May 9 to in-person service with extra precautions as part of the state’s “Phase 1” reopening, casino resorts were noticeably excluded.

Nevadans have only a few days remaining to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan through Nevada Health Link, the online health insurance marketplace operated by the state agency, the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange.

The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the 2020-2021 county’s Tentative Budget on April 1, 2020. The County Manager and Comptroller have recommended the budget with no salary increases and a projected 6.6% ending fund balance which is lower than the 16.67% authorized by Nevada Revised Statutes.

The County Manager also recommended that the Board not fund any of the 35.8 positions requested by the various departments including:

24 Personnel for the Sheriff’s Office
1 Information Systems Technician
1 Community Development Director
1 Public Works Director

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to threaten local economies across the country, the U.S. Small Business Administration has increased efforts to alleviate the hardship experienced by small businesses.

Local Restaurants open for takeout and/or delivery

Local Businesses that are open

COVID-19 news stories by Carson Now

Information about Coronavirus & COVID-19

Centers for Disease Control
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

Nevada Health Response
https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/

Carson City Health and Human Services
https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/

Carson Tahoe Health
https://blog.carsontahoe.com/coronavirus-updates

Northern Nevada Development Authority COVID-19 resources page
https://nnda.org/partners/covid-19-business/

COVID-19 resources from Western Nevada Development District
https://wndd.org/covid-19/

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If you know of any other resources to be added to this list, please email them to kc@carsonnow.org.

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Stimulus Program Information

The coronavirus relief bill passed March 27 by Congress provides payments to individuals who make less than $100,000 a year. The payment total $1,200 for each adult who makes $75,000 or less, plus $500 per child. The payment amounts decrease if you make between $75,000 and $99,000. The income is determined by your latest tax return filed with the IRS. It will use your 2019 taxes if you have filed them already, or your 2018 taxes if you haven't. If you have not filed either year, you can do so here: https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

If your address has changed since you last filed taxes, you can fix that here: https://www.irs.gov/filing/individual/update-my-information

More information: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus

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Here is a list of essential community resources around Carson City, along with telephone numbers and website addresses. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many offices are closed. Information resources may best be found on the agencies websites.

CARSON CITY — The Division of Health Care Financing and Policy, Nevada Medicaid, announced steps taken to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including expanded access to telehealth.

In response to Gov. Sisolak’s March 12 Emergency Declaration, the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, the state agency that connects Nevadans to qualified health plans through the online State Based Exchange, known as Nevada Health Link, announces a limited-time Exceptional Circumstance Special Enrollment Period for qualified Nevadans who missed the Open Enrollment Period.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, at one point during Wednesday’s raucous presidential debate on the Las Vegas Strip, suggested her opponents take their sparring down to the MGM Grand for fight night.

It was an apt comparison. The eight previous Democratic debates were marked by relatively civil policy disagreements interrupted by occasional dustups and memorable one-liners. On Wednesday night, the gloves came off.

Obstacles are nothing new for Carson City native Rebecca Ostrander.

Ostrander, 21, suffered a brain tumor shortly after her 18th birthday. She was forced to spend most of her senior year of high school in hospitals and physical therapy recovery centers.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Division of Insurance would like to remind consumers that Medicare Supplement plans C and F, also known as Medigap C and F, are no longer available to newly eligible consumers, as of Jan. 1, 2020.

Today, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 is the beginning of a new year, a new decade and also a new set of laws. More than 70 laws enacted by the Nevada Legislature last year take effect either in whole or in part today.

They include several major health care initiatives — including a ban on surprise emergency room bills, a tax on vaping products and a requirement that hospitals use patients’ preferred names and pronouns — as well as laws that will benefit employees, including paid sick leave.

Chad Neanover, a cook at a Strip restaurant, took a deep breath when he spoke about his wife’s experiences in the hospital. The health insurance negotiated by the union made it as painless as ...

A Navy veteran who told Bernie Sanders that he wanted to kill himself because of his struggle with Huntington’s disease and overwhelming medical bills returned to a Carson City campaign rally three months after they first met to thank the Democratic presidential contender.