Fallon and Churchill County residents face many of the same health care challenges found across rural central Nevada, including difficulty accessing specialty care, gaps in services for children and adolescents, and high rates of chronic disease, according to a new regional health assessment approved Aug. 12 by the Central Nevada Health District Board of Health.
The Community Health Needs Assessment, conducted by VillageReach, covers the City of Fallon and Churchill, Pershing, Eureka, and Mineral counties. The report found relatively high rates of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes compared with statewide data, along with barriers to obtaining health care in rural communities.
Residents reported difficulty obtaining specialty care, traveling for services, and navigating referrals. Insurance limitations, high deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs also affected access to care. The assessment identified gaps in pediatric and adolescent services, including youth mental health care, and found routine childhood vaccination rates were generally declining.
The findings were based on more than 100 local, state, and national health indicators, community site visits, interviews with local health and service providers and residents, and community validation sessions. VillageReach also conducted site visits and surveys in Fallon and other communities throughout the district.
The assessment also identified areas in which the region compared favorably, including higher reported physical activity and mammography rates and generally lower rates of sexually transmitted infections.
During the presentation, board Chair Ken Tedford questioned the report's decision to group mental health and substance abuse together.
“There's substance abuse issues, and then there's mental health issues that are linked to substance abuse. We know that,” Tedford said. “But, we've seen a lot of mental health issues that just sit by themselves and don't have any link whatsoever to substance abuse.”
The board approved the assessment with an amendment separating mental health and substance abuse in the final report. The full assessment is expected to be released on the district's website.
The board also addressed staffing challenges in the district's clinical services program. Administrator Shannon Ernst said CNHD has had difficulty filling a combined clinical manager and advanced practice registered nurse position and recommended separating the jobs. The district has been recruiting for the position since March.
The board approved hiring a registered nurse as clinical manager at Pay Grade 18, with a starting salary of $82,929.60, while directing Ernst to explore contracting for advanced practice registered nurse services as needed.
The board also ratified a $291,585 Fund for a Healthy Nevada grant supporting health education, counseling and social support, direct services, and health screenings. CNHD also received $273,950 to help make community health worker services eligible for Medicaid billing and to provide technical assistance.
Looking toward the 2027 Nevada Legislature, Ernst said the district is supporting a possible bill to expand epidemiological services statewide. Public health agencies are responsible for investigating more than 80 reportable diseases, she said, but do not have enough staff to meet those requirements.
A proposed two-year, $2,500-per-month lobbying contract with Nevada Strategies will not move forward for now. Ernst said legal counsel determined the firm could not contract with CNHD until early 2027 because of a previous connection to the district board. Nevada Strategies offered to assist the district on a volunteer basis until then. No formal action was taken on the contract.
The board also authorized Ernst to sign a joint letter with Nevada tobacco-control organizations asking Formula 1 Racing to restrict tobacco-product advertising at its events.
Environmental Health staff are also preparing for Burning Man, including catering certification and oversight of water and wastewater. The work has identified gaps in CNHD regulations and its fee schedule that will be brought back to the board for possible revisions.
The Central Nevada Health District Board of Health will move to quarterly meetings. Its next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
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