County health officer warns Elko County could feel effects of state health-agency reorganization

The county health officer told the Elko County Board of Health that Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services has been split into two entities — the Nevada Health Authority and the Department of Human Services — and said the change could affect local public-health operations. "The Department of Health and Human Services is split into 2," the county health officer said, adding that the Nevada Health Authority will host Medicaid and public-employee benefit programs while the Department of Human Services will include the Department of Public and Behavioral Health.

The officer said some program functions now sit with different state offices and promised to invite state representatives and Amy Hein Sutherland from the Nevada Association of Counties to give a fuller briefing at the October meeting so local leaders can better understand who to contact. Board members were told old email addresses should be forwarded to new addresses but were advised to alert the county if communications problems arise so staff can escalate them. The county health officer requested an organizational chart to clarify lines of authority and recommended patience as the state implements the changes.