Governor Lombardo Expands Mission of Patient Protection Commission to Address Healthcare Workforce Shortage in Nevada

In an effort to address the state’s healthcare workforce shortage, Governor Joe Lombardo recently signed a new executive order expanding the mission of the Patient Protection Commission (PPC). Established in 2019 by the Nevada Legislature, the PPC was created to systematically review issues related to the healthcare needs of residents in Nevada.

With this expanded mission, the commission will now focus on addressing current challenges associated with building an adequate healthcare workforce to care for residents. The commission will evaluate data and national best practices in various issue areas, including attracting and retaining talent in urban and rural communities, improving access to primary care and public health services, and removing unnecessary state administrative hurdles to recruiting and retaining healthcare workers.

To fulfill its objectives, the PPC will also identify sustainable funding strategies for strengthening the state’s healthcare workforce. This includes supporting competitive Medicaid reimbursements and working on ensuring that recommended strategies for increasing provider reimbursement are based on payment methodologies that incentivize better quality and value for taxpayer dollars.

Furthermore, the commission will identify strategies for evaluating new and existing state investments aimed at improving the capacity and size of the state’s healthcare workforce. By addressing these key issue areas, the PPC aims to improve healthcare access and quality for residents across Nevada.