Joe Lombardo, governor of Nevada, said that access to medical care continues to strain residents across the state. The statement was made on X.
“Adequate access to healthcare remains a pressing challenge for many Nevadans, including myself and my family,” said Lombardo, Nevada State Executive – Governor (R). “The need for more doctors and nurses in Nevada is increasingly evident. I’m proud to introduce the Nevada Healthcare Access Act today.”
Rural and underserved communities in Nevada face significant healthcare access challenges due to provider shortages and geographic isolation. According to the Nevada Department of Public and Behavioral Health’s 2024 Access to Health Care Report, rural areas have seen modest improvements in insurance coverage but still struggle with access to care. Governor Lombardo’s proposed Nevada Healthcare Access Act aims to address this by expanding telepsychology services and modernizing Medicaid infrastructure. As reported by MyNews4, the Act also seeks to establish a statewide Office of Mental Health.
Nevada ranks below the national average in healthcare providers per capita, creating barriers to care across the state. As detailed in the 2023 Health Workforce in Nevada Chartbook from the Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation, Nevada would need 255 more family medicine physicians, 626 nurse practitioners, and over 3,100 registered nurses to meet U.S. benchmarks. These shortages are especially pronounced in rural and low-income regions.
Despite improvements, Nevada continues to face long-term healthcare staffing shortages. According to the 2025 Nursing Workforce in Nevada report published by the Patient Protection Commission, the state saw a 35% increase in registered nurses and a 236% increase in advanced practice registered nurses over the past decade. However, Nevada still needs over 3,000 more RNs to meet national per capita averages, especially in underserved communities.
Lombardo is the 31st Governor of Nevada, taking office in January 2023 after serving eight years as Sheriff of Clark County. As reported by the official Nevada Governor’s website, Lombardo holds degrees in civil engineering and crisis management and served over three decades in law enforcement. Since becoming governor, he has prioritized healthcare reform, including Medicaid modernization and provider access legislation.
