Nevadans Likely to Face Higher Prices, Reduced Choice with Approval of New Flawed, State Government-Controlled Health Care Program

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada’s Health Care Future (NVHCF) released the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Nevada’s 1332 waiver application, moving the state one step closer to the implementation of a one-size-fits-all state government-controlled health insurance system.

“We are disappointed to learn of the decision to approve Nevada’s 1332 waiver application, which moves the state closer to implementing the flawed Nevada Public Option,” said Kelley Robertson, Executive Director of Nevada’s Health Care Future. “This one-size-fits-all state government-controlled health care program will cost more and limit Nevadans’ access to the care they deserve. The Nevada Public Option is destined to fail just as it has in Colorado, where most counties saw over a 75 percent decrease in the number of available plans. Instead of building on what’s working to improve the health care system, this will fundamentally alter the system at the expense of Nevadans.”

Nevada’s decision to implement a Public Option comes despite the failure of similar programs everywhere else they have been tried across the country. In Colorado, the Public Option has resulted in four insurers exiting the marketplace, depriving consumers of choice and competition. In both Colorado and Washington State, the first to adopt the flawed Public Option, premiums have increased. The decision to move forward with the 1332 waiver and Public Option will almost certainly cause Nevadans to experience the same higher costs, limited options and decline in quality of health care that the Public Option has brought elsewhere.

Last year, NVHCF submitted comments on Nevada’s 1332 waiver application and again on the revised application, urging CMS to deny it.

“We regret that CMS did not heed the concerns in the public comments submitted by Nevada’s Health Care Future and other stakeholders. We urge lawmakers to build upon the existing health care system with a proven track record of delivering care instead of tearing it down in favor of a state government-controlled public option that is sure to fail,” Robertson concluded.