CalPERS staff told trustees that Kaiser Permanente and Renown Health have announced an agreement to jointly operate a health plan and outpatient network in northern Nevada, and that the expansion is pending Nevada regulatory approvals and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sign‑off for Medicare products. CalPERS staff said Kaiser has indicated a 2027 start for the new service area, and CalPERS is conducting ZIP‑code mapping to assess potential incorporation into the 2027 plan offerings.

Don Mould told trustees the move could give members who now rely on a CalPERS PPO to access care in Reno — particularly in border communities such as Truckee, Tahoe City and Susanville — a new HMO option, and that CalPERS has roughly 12,000 members in Nevada concentrated in northern counties. Staff cautioned the expansion depends on Nevada and federal approval, and said network adequacy determinations and hospital access reviews by Nevada regulators and the Department of Managed Health Care could affect availability in specific ZIP codes.

Trustees praised the potential for improved local access and staff described ongoing mapping work to see whether Kaiser Nevada could be offered in the 2027 plan suite if approvals proceed.