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Subcommittee funds two Silver State Exchange positions to support plan certification and tribal outreach
Summary
The subcommittee approved two new positions for the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange — a management analyst for plan certification and a health program specialist to serve as a tribal liaison — and adopted related closing items.
The legislative subcommittee unanimously approved funding for two new positions at the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange to address increased plan certification workload and to strengthen tribal outreach and program support.
Morgan Barlow, program analyst with the Legislative Counsel Bureau Fiscal Analysis Division, told the subcommittee the governor recommended roughly $209,815 in reserve reductions over the 2025–27 biennium for a new management analyst to support plan certification, and about $170,150 in reserve reductions to fund a new health program specialist position to serve as a tribal liaison.
The Exchange said the plan‑certification workload has grown because more insurers and plans are participating on Nevada Health Link and because of evolving federal and state requirements. Barlow noted peak certification work typically occurs between July and September and that recruitment would begin after legislative approval. The subcommittee approved the plan certification position as provided in the governor’s recommendation.
On tribal outreach, the Exchange said its Tribal Partnership Program has three components (enrollment and eligibility assistance, administrative premium sponsorship support, and policy support for claims processing). The agency reported five of Nevada—s 28 federally recognized tribes participate in enrollment and eligibility assistance and two participate in premium sponsorship; enrollment of American Indian and Alaska Native members increased from 702 in July 2024 to over 1,000 by January 2025 (an increase the agency described as roughly 34%). The Exchange told legislators the current tribal liaison duties were handled part time by the executive assistant to the executive director and the workload now exceeds part‑time capacity.
Vice Chair Baucus commented that the tribal liaison position would be especially important if Indian Health Service access narrows in parts of the state. "I think whoever you find to serve as this tribal liaison is gonna have their work cut out for them," Baucus said, noting increased demand for alternative coverage if federal services are reduced.
The committee voted to approve both positions and closed other recommended items in the Exchange—s budget package; fiscal staff were authorized to make technical adjustments as necessary. There was no public comment on these items during the hearing.
The motions to fund the two positions were adopted by voice vote and recorded as unanimous approval by members present.
