News
Corporatism Seizes the NV Legislature
Over the past dozen years, Nevada lawmakers have increasingly used their power to pick winners and losers in the economy. They have raised taxes on households and businesses and effectively handed over proceeds to favored competitors. That trend is reaching a crescendo in the 2023 legislative session. Back in 2011,… Read More
Recent News
Understanding Welfare Reform in Nevada
Prior to the election, Congress passed historic welfare reform legislation which President Clinton reluctantly signed into law. Regardless of his promises to correct the "flaws" of the bill, Nevada should have a basic understanding of how the legislation changes the current system.
Insurance Reform Needed: Lay Decision Makers Delay Treatment
In these times of health care reform, insurance companies require that pre-authorization be obtained for surgical procedures recommended by a physician before insurance reimbursement can be considered. If the insurance company does not feel that the recommended procedure meets the standards of medical necessity the patient and the physician may appeal their decision , ands the claim then goes to the medial review department. The problem lies in that the "reviewer" is rarely a physician from the same medical specialty as the procedure in question and is usually a person employed by the insurance company. The reviewer thus has a financial interest in the company which may tend to slant the reviewer’s consideration of the claim in favor of their employer over the patient‘s best interest.
Restoring School Board Options on Contracting Out
While school boards are asking for more money to build schools, repair current structures and increase teachers' salaries, opportunities to save money are being overlooked. Contracting out, or the subcontracting of services that are needed to keep a school system running, are not usually considered in cost-reducing efforts. School boards are often faced with "make or buy" decisions, such as whether to hire school bus drivers or employ a private transportation company. In public education, the usefulness and importance of these decisions is often ignored by school boards and administrators.