Letters to the editor for Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Protect Nevada patients first

Health care reform should ensure available and affordable coverage for every American.

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, many Nevadans now have access to healthcare services. Our Carson City practice saw a big increase in patients seeking preventative care who hadn’t been seen in years. A few, unfortunately, had already developed cancer and needed advanced treatment but most benefited from early detection and treatment of cancer and other medical problems at minimal cost.

We have known for decades that the cost of screening and prevention is far less than the cost of treating the consequences. When we look beyond cost to see the effect on families, the changes have had a profound impact that will be felt for generations. Cancers detected before they invade, pregnancies planned, smoking rates lowered, mental health problems addressed and indicated vaccines given, lowering the spread of disease and improving the quality of life for all Nevadans.

We applaud the efforts of Gov. Sandoval who put forth policy principles to the Senate as part of a bipartisan group of governors. Health care is not partisan — it’s about people. The physician community supports insurance reform that increases access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage and that addresses rising health care costs across the healthcare system.

Early drafts of the Senate health care reform bill do not meet these goals. Senators, please start over and protect Nevada patients first.

Dr. Sandra Koch and Dr. Amy Sue Hayes

Carson Douglas Medical Society, Nevada State Medical Association