Nevada Health Authority launches: Lombardo’s bold move to cut healthcare costs just went live

By Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada News and Views

Remember when getting healthcare used to be simple? You’d call your doctor, make an appointment, and get the care you needed. Those days feel long gone. But Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo just took a big step to bring back some of that common sense.

What Happened

In July, Lombardo launched the Nevada Health Authority. Yesterday, the governor hosted a ceremonial bill signing.

It’s not another big government program. It’s actually the opposite. The governor took several scattered health programs and put them under one roof to work better together.

When he announced the launch, Lombardo said: “I outlined our vision for the Nevada Health Authority in my State of the State Address, and I’m pleased to see it come to fruition today through bipartisan support,”

The new authority brings together Nevada’s Medicaid program, the state health insurance exchange, and public employee benefits. Think of it like cleaning out your garage. Instead of having tools scattered everywhere, you put them all in one toolbox where you can find them easily.

Why This Matters to Conservatives

This move hits all the right notes for limited government folks. First, it’s about efficiency, not expansion. “This new authority will help Nevada capitalize on its strong purchasing power when it comes to health insurance and get a better deal for taxpayers, all while offering better insurance options for eligible Nevadans,” the governor explained.

When government works smarter instead of bigger, taxpayers win. The state can negotiate better deals because it’s buying healthcare for more people at once. It’s like shopping at Costco instead of the corner store.

Second, it cuts bureaucratic red tape. Anyone who’s dealt with government healthcare knows the nightmare of getting bounced between different departments. The Nevada Health Authority puts all the health programs in one place. No more calling three different offices to get one answer.

The Legislative Win

Senate Bill 494 sailed through the Nevada Legislature with bipartisan support, passing unanimously in both chambers. That’s rare in today’s political climate. The bill officially became law when Lombardo signed it on June 10.

The Bigger Picture

Lombardo first pitched this idea in his January State of the State speech. “We’re also removing barriers that prevent providers from focusing on what matters most: delivering high-quality care. By 2028, all health insurance plans in Nevada will be required to adopt standardized and digitized prior authorization plans, thus reducing delays for patients and providers,”

The governor also pushed through rules that force insurance companies to respond to doctor requests within two days instead of 20 days. That’s huge for patients who need care now, not next month.

Stacie Weeks, who runs the new authority, spelled out the goals clearly: “unify similarly aligned agencies to gain more efficiencies in state government, increase the state’s purchasing power for health care, lower the costs of health care for Nevadans, bring more health care providers to the state, improve health care quality, and streamline eligibility for programs for Nevadans.”

What Critics Are Saying

Not everyone was convinced at first. Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, a Democrat, worried about the details, saying: “Does the idea sound good? Sure, it sounds good, but how are we going to do it? And how are we going to make sure that there’s not a service gap lost there? How are we going to make sure we don’t lose federal funding for those positions?”

Some Democrats also grumbled that Lombardo was taking credit for ideas they had proposed before. But when something makes sense, smart leaders run with it regardless of who thought of it first.

The Money Side

Here’s the part conservatives will love. This isn’t about spending more money. It’s about spending smarter.

Lombardo admitted: “What we experienced in this session is unique because we’ve had a lot of federal funding from previous years and a lot of ability to act on funds. This session, we don’t have that much,”

The new authority will help Nevada get better deals on healthcare by combining its buying power. When you’re purchasing insurance for state employees, Medicaid patients, and health exchange customers all together, you can demand better prices.

Looking Ahead

The Nevada Health Authority launched in July, but this is just the beginning. The real test will be whether it actually makes healthcare cheaper and easier for regular Nevadans.

Early signs look good. The authority passed both chambers of the legislature unanimously. When Democrats and Republicans agree on something in today’s political climate, you know it makes sense.

The governor has bigger healthcare plans too. He wants to invest $25 million to bring more doctors to rural areas where people have trouble finding care. He’s also working to speed up the licensing process so qualified doctors can start working faster instead of sitting in bureaucratic limbo.

What Conservatives Can Do

This is a model worth watching and copying. When Lombardo runs for re-election, healthcare efficiency should be one of his talking points. Other Republican governors should look at what Nevada did and ask why their states can’t do the same thing.

Voters should also pay attention to whether this actually works. If the Nevada Health Authority cuts costs and improves care, it proves that smart government reforms work better than just throwing money at problems.

Conservative policy groups should study this approach. It shows how you can improve government services by making them more efficient, not more expensive.

The bottom line is simple. Government healthcare programs aren’t going away. But that doesn’t mean they have to be wasteful, slow, and frustrating. Nevada just proved there’s a better way.

*

Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.