Among the many healthcare-related bills introduced in the 2025 Nevada Legislature, two that passed stood out as potential game changers for the state’s fraught system.
One had to do with prior authorization, which Nevada lawmakers, patients, and doctors agreed is the bane of their existence.
Insurance companies say this process, where they approve, deny, or reduce how much they will cover, is essential to minimize fraud, but others argue it’s riddled with delays and red tape.
Private insurance companies and Medicaid must now respond to requests within two business days, instead of the 20 days previously set by the state. The waiting game is an issue even for legislators. Republican Assemblymember Heidi Kasama said her husband, who was diagnosed with stage-four stomach, liver, and lymph node cancer, missed care when he switched to a new treatment.
“We had to start authorization again. The doctors had to apply again, and we were on a waiting timeline again, which was frightening for us,” Kasama says.
The legislation also prohibits prior authorization for certain preventative services, hospice care for kids, substance use treatment, and blood glucose test strips.
Every county in Nevada has a health professional shortage. Another law passed this session means the state has joined a dozen others in shortening the licensing process for immigrant doctors.
Healthcare workers who have practiced in a foreign country can take U.S. medical exams and skip residency programs, which take three to seven years. They must be supervised by a licensed physician for two years or take an exam, be English-proficient, and receive a job offer to work independently.
In Las Vegas, roughly 70 foreign medical professionals will benefit from this legislation, according to Americans for Prosperity Nevada. That’s the case for José Alberto, an internal medicine doctor from Havana, who has worked odd jobs such as driving for Uber and frying chicken since coming to Las Vegas three years ago.
“I consider myself a good doctor with a pretty good experience,” Alberto says. “I want to help others, like I did in Cuba. That’s my passion.”
