Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

County wants boxers to carry more medical insurance

Clark County commissioners today approved a resolution to encourage the Nevada Athletic Commission to address medical coverage for boxers and mixed martial arts athletes.

The resolution comes after reports that a boxer who was injured at a Las Vegas event racked up more than $500,000 in medical bills at University Medical Center. The athletic commission only requires boxers to have $50,000 in medical insurance coverage. The rest of the medical bills are often passed on to taxpayers.

Commissioners, meeting in their position as the UMC Board of Trustees, are asking the athletic commission to consider requiring more coverage. But doing so may require action by the Legislature, Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said.

Commissioner Steve Sisolak said he also would like to see changes extended to include other high-risk professions, such as acrobats in Strip shows.

Commissioners have been trying to address the cost of running UMC, the only public hospital in Southern Nevada.

CORRECTION: This story was changed to correct the amount that medical bills totaled for the injured boxer. | (January 19, 2010)

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