LAS VEGAS – Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary, hosted a roundtable discussion with local Las Vegas leaders on Open Enrollment efforts. This discussion focused on local efforts to enroll consumers in affordable coverage through marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.
Participants had an opportunity to discuss their work and answer questions from both HHS and DOI leadership. The discussion focused on the intersection of the clinical care and community care through increased promotion of and access to public lands, parks, and recreation opportunities. Secretary Jewell thanked the partners for their efforts to enroll people in Las Vegas and work to promote healthy, active lifestyles, especially through encouraging use of public lands.
While there have been great gains in coverage in Nevada, Secretary Jewell and Deputy Secretary Wakefield emphasized that there is more work to be done. In Nevada, the adult uninsured rate dropped from 20 percent in 2013 to 15.2 percent in the first half of 2015. In Las Vegas and the surrounding region, there are 96,000 uninsured who are eligible for the Marketplace. (The number of the uninsured is for the Designated Market Area that includes Las Vegas.)
Las Vegas is part of the White House “Healthy Communities Challenge” to engage key communities with large numbers or high percentages of uninsured in states across the country where strong federal, state and community collaboration can have a meaningful impact on reaching the uninsured.
The discussion took place at The Springs Preserve. The following organizations participated in the discussion:
* Ramirez Group/Nevada Health Link
* Las Vegas Foundation
* Consumer Assistance and Resource Enterprise
* Positively Kids
* YMCA
* Nevada Primary Care Association
* Senator Reid’s Office
* Lake Mead National Park
* Southern Nevada Health District
Source: Department of Interior
