Congresswoman Susie Lee is making a new push to tackle Nevada’s severe doctor shortage, but is her so-called bipartisan bill really a solution, or just another way to expand government intervention? Speaking at the University Medical Center alongside healthcare industry representatives, Lee highlighted the state’s low physician-to-resident ratio but quickly pivoted to a familiar talking point—protecting federal entitlements like Medicaid.

Nevada currently ranks 45th in the nation for its physician-to-resident ratio, with all 17 counties designated as health professional shortage areas. The state has only 218 physicians per 100,000 residents, raising concerns about access to care. However, rather than focusing on ways to incentivize the free market to fill the gaps, Lee instead urged Governor Joe Lombardo to pressure congressional Republicans into opposing proposed Medicaid cuts that she claims would make the situation worse.

“But I want to be clear, it’s not just Medicaid recipients… proposed Medicaid cuts,” Lee stated. “It’s real simple. It’s up to Republicans… Senate and the White House.”

Lee’s stance raises questions about whether the real issue is a shortage of government funding or the government itself getting in the way. Overregulation, licensing barriers, and red tape have made it increasingly difficult for doctors to practice in states like Nevada, and yet, the discussion always seems to land on more taxpayer-funded programs.

According to KFF, a nonpartisan health research group, more than 811,000 Nevadans are currently enrolled in Medicaid. But how much of the doctor shortage is actually caused by a system that prioritizes bureaucracy over patient care? Instead of looking to big government for a solution, perhaps it’s time to let the free market work, reducing excessive regulations and giving private practices the incentives they need to serve more patients.

Will Nevada’s leadership finally address the root of the problem, or will this bill be another Band-Aid on a government-created crisis?

Source: News3LV

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