Editorial: Health insurance law would benefit UMC

Thursday, April 17, 2003 | 9:04 a.m.

A provision of Assembly Bill 356 addresses a long-standing issue in Nevada -- the lack of health insurance by many workers. The bill, introduced by Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, would specifically require large grocery stores, such as Wal-Mart, to provide health insurance. The rationale is that the public is better protected from disease if workers who handle food are in good health, and that insurance increases that likelihood.

Another rationale, as we see it, is that public hospitals must pick up the tab for uninsured patients. We support AB356 and believe, as a condition of doing business in Nevada, that all large companies, including those in the construction business, should be required to cover their employees and their employees' families. University Medical Center, operated by Clark County, is now losing $2 million a month and its services are being cut. The hospital would stand a good chance of rebounding if more of its patients were insured.