Dear Governor Lombardo,
This letter is in regard to the article published in the Reno Gazette-Journal on April 15, 2024, on your plan to work on addressing current challenges with building an adequate healthcare workforce to care for residents.
Within the past month, Churchill County, and specifically Fallon, was dealt a severe blow to the ongoing health-care crisis. The Northern Nevada Medical Center was told they were to be closed, and all physicians were to vacate the premises within one month. Included with the physicians to be let go were two general practitioners and several specialty doctors. This has left Fallon with two general practitioners and, other than ob-gyns, no specialty doctors.
In the 1980s, the population of Churchill County was approximately 14,000, with eight general practitioners in practice (from census.gov). The current population is now just over 25,800, with only two general practitioners available. The Banner/Churchill clinic complex has no specialized doctors. The Renown Clinic has rotating doctors throughout the week with a primary care APRN available on Mondays only. Renown does not take Medicare Advantage insurance.
Of the 25,800 people of Churchill County, the median age is 40.5 years. Those over the age of 65 account for approximately 19.3% of the population (census.gov). A University of Iowa study shows that 90.6% of the population of Churchill County does have insurance coverage. About 12.7% of those insured have Medicare, and 25.5% have Medicare Advantage Plus coverage.
Many of the senior citizens of Churchill County do not own a vehicle or are unable to drive to Reno or Carson City for the health care they need. Inclement weather is also a factor. Driving to either city is not advisable during inclement weather. Many seniors are not able to tolerate the 3-5 hours one doctor’s appointment may take, with travel time included. Many of these folks must endure this trip once a week for ongoing treatments.
We fervently hope and pray your administration will come up with a timely solution to the healthcare crisis affecting not only Churchill County but all of Nevada. Other states have dealt with this crisis and have had much success.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Sincerely,
Celeste Buswell
Harold Payne
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