Editorial: Guinn has to step in and help fired docs

Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 | 5:01 a.m.

The president of the Clark County OB-GYN Society, Dr. John Nowins, wants Gov. Kenny Guinn to help get him back on Sierra Health Services' insurance plan. Nowins and two other OB-GYNs were terminated by Sierra Health, one of two insurers that help run the state's Medicaid program, just one week after they met with Guinn on Sept. 18. The doctors complained to Guinn about the low reimbursement rates under Nevada's Medicaid program and talked about their frustration with insurance company red tape. They believe unnecessary pre-authorization for some treatments delays their work, which means that quality of medical care for patients can be jeopardized.

Sierra Health initially acknowledged that it terminated some OB-GYNs because of their vocal opposition to managed care companies, but a day later the company denied that it targeted the physicians simply because they met with Guinn. Despite the company's denial, it's evident that the Sept. 18 meeting was a factor.

Nevada state government, which has a contract with Sierra Health to run the state's Medicaid program in Clark County, has a duty to make sure that this insurer isn't getting rid of doctors because of their legitimate concerns about health care. This is a free-speech issue, not just the simple contract issue Sierra Health says it is. The terminations were outrageous. Guinn has indicated that it's unlikely he will intervene, but we believe he should help the doctors get their jobs back.