Letter: Healthcare and Nevadans

A recent survey by Sacred Heart University revealed many Americans are concerned about no or inadequate health insurance and shortages of healthcare professionals. Moreover, participants tended to prefer political candidates who advocated for sustainable healthcare than those who didn’t.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA; a.k.a. Obamacare) provides affordable health coverage to 45 million workers and their families. Together, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program provide health and long-term care coverage to over 80 million Americans; of which 861,000 are Nevadans.

Like a Bill Murray-Groundhog Day scenario, 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 affordable, life-sustaining healthcare to so many Americans and Nevadans.

I applaud Sen. Jacky Rosen for co-sponsoring the Specialty Advancing Rural Care Act that addresses the shortage of physicians in rural communities and the Train More Nurses Act to help increase the number of faculty in nursing schools. The 82nd Nevada legislature passed bills that, in part, provide support to faculty for educating nurses. Moreover, Gov. Joe Lombardo just signed an executive order that directs the Patient Protection Commission to address our shortage of healthcare workers.

I encourage Nevadans to support political candidates and policy that address healthcare accessibility; track healthcare issues in our state Assembly; celebrate healthcare workers; and incentivize caring individuals to pursue a healthcare career.

Dr. Joseph Holomuzki

Carson City