Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Health Insurance Exchange topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill would add a tribal appointee to Silver State Health Insurance Exchange board, tribes say it will improve Indian health sponsorship
Summary
Senate Bill 97 would require one of the governor's appointees to Nevada's Silver State Health Insurance Exchange board to be a member of a Nevada tribe with experience in tribal health administration, sponsors and tribal representatives told the committee.
Senate Bill 97 would amend Nevada Revised Statutes governing the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange to require that one of the governor’s appointees to the exchange board be a member of a Nevada tribe with experience in tribal health administration.
Brett Scalari of Strategies 360 introduced the bill on behalf of the Reno‑Sparks Indian Colony and was joined by tribal leaders. Angie Wilson, director of the Reno‑Sparks Tribal Health Clinic, described the federal trust responsibility for American Indian and Alaska Native health and said that federal statutes and regulations — including the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the Snyder Act and provisions of the Affordable Care Act and 45 C.F.R. §156 — create specific enrollment and cost‑sharing pathways for tribal members.
Wilson told the committee that tribes can sponsor monthly premiums for enrolled members through exchanges and that tribal enrollees are eligible for 0 or limited cost‑sharing plans under federal rules in many cases. She said Nevada tribes have worked for years with Nevada Health Link and the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange to create a tribal sponsorship pathway, but that an explicit tribal appointee on the exchange board would strengthen collaboration and help address operational details and state‑level certifications. “We definitely feel that one of those seats at least should be for a tribal representative,” Wilson said.
Alex Tanchek with Silver State Government Relations testified in support on behalf of several tribes. The committee heard one opposing public commenter who appeared to reference another matter and was clarified by the chair. No organized opposition to the bill was recorded.
Chair Darryl Gardeby of the Reno‑Sparks Indian Colony and other tribal representatives expressed appreciation for the measure and pledged to continue working with the exchange and the Legislature to operationalize tribal sponsorship of premiums.
Why it matters: sponsors said the change will put tribal perspectives at the board level of the state exchange, aiding implementation of tribal sponsorship and ensuring tribal health system considerations are reflected in exchange policy and operations.
