Letters to The Editor
A recent nationwide survey by Sacred Heart University revealed many Americans are concerned about the lack of or inadequate coverage of health insurance, medical challenges facing low-income and underserved communities, and nationwide shortages of healthcare professionals and new health workers. These concerns have implications for the 2024 November elections ─ participants regardless of political party were more supportive of candidates who advocated for accessible, sustainable healthcare practices than those that didn’t.
The Biden-Harris administration recently celebrated the 14th year of the Affordable Care Act (ACA; a.k.a. ‘Obamacare’). An estimated 45 million Americans have gained healthcare coverage under the ACA, of which over 99,000 are Nevadans. Reflecting on its success, the ACA has enhanced coverage to workers and their families by protecting those with pre-existing conditions from discriminatory practices, providing access to life-saving preventive care (e.g., flu shots, cancer screenings), covering dependents until age 26, and preventing unwanted coverage cancellations.
Complementing these benefits, Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act (2021), in part, reduced ACA healthcare premiums and provided $1.9 trillion in COVID relief legislation. In addition, the uni-partisan Inflation Reduction Act (2022) reduced the cost of insulin for seniors to $35 per month, capped prescription drugs to $2,000 per month, gave Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices, and extended tax credits to make health premiums lower.
Two other key programs, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), provide health and long-term care coverage to roughly 80 million low-income children, pregnant women, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities across the U.S. Total Medicaid and CHIP (called ‘Nevada Check Up’ for NV) enrollment in Nevada was 861,000 in late 2022.
Like a Bill Murray─Ground Hog Day scenario, the GOP has tried to repeal or cut these programs over and over. House Republicans are expected to release an annual budget resolution that proposes to cut $4.5 trillion from the ACA, Medicaid, and CHIP. Donald Trump has repeatedly declared he wants “to terminate Obamacare”. It is unconscionable to strip or weaken healthcare coverage for so many Americans and Nevadans; these programs save lives, help people live longer, and provide affordable health care to loved ones.
Nevada, and the nation, is facing a shortage of healthcare professionals. I applaud NV Gov. Joe Lombardo for just signing an executive order that directs the Patient Protection Commission to make recommendations to address the state’s shortage of healthcare workers. Similarly, Sen. Jacky Rosen (NV) has co-sponsored the bipartisan Specialty Advancing Rural Care Act that addresses the shortage of physicians in rural communities by creating a student loan repayment program for specialists practicing in these communities. Sen. Rosen also introduced the bipartisan Train More Nurses Act (Sept. 2023) which reviews nursing grant programs and increases the number of faculty in nursing schools. Likewise, the 82nd NV legislature passed Assembly Bill 401 and Senate Bill 375 that, in part, provide support to faculty for educating and training nurses.
Although there is no quick, magic cure for challenges to our healthcare system, we can support political candidates and policy that actively address healthcare accessibility and affordability; track and provide input on NV health issues in our State Assembly; be appreciative of the life-giving services our healthcare professionals provide; and encourage and incentivize bright, caring individuals to pursue a career in healthcare.
Published in the Reno Gazette Journal on 21 April 2024
Joe Holomuzki, Carson City Nevada.
