By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

Moapa Valley residents in need of assistance with health care related issues met with representatives of the Governor’s Office of Consumer Health Assistance last week who held an open house in the Overton Community Center.

Eight Moapa Valley residents took advantage of the open house to seek aid from the government representatives about a variety of problems including social security, Medicare and their lack of health insurance, said Charles E. Quintana, a quality assurance specialist with the governor’s office said.

The low local turn-out may have been in part because few are really aware of the office and the assistance now available under the new Affordable Health Care Act, which President Obama signed into law in March 2010.

The governor’s Consumer Health Assistance office was first started in 1999 under Gov. Kenny Quinn to act as an ombudsman for work-related issues when the State Industrial Insurance System was disbanded. However, its official capacity and budget was expanded last year with the enactment of the new law covering health care. The act established health insurance reforms that hold insurance companies accountable, lower costs, guarantee choice and enhance quality health care for all Americans, Quintana said.

“We’ve been connecting with residents throughout the state by newspaper ads, radio spots and community calendars and we’ve held a number of open houses all over the southern end of the state,” Quintana said. “We have only had three or four advocates in the office so it’s been a challenge doing rural outreach. With the increased money from the health care act, however, we hope to be able to improve our infrastructure and increase staff. Additionally, we’re now partnered with the office of Minority Health and the state health insurance program, among others.”

Sherlene Y. Simpson, an LPN who works as a quality assistance specialist, said the whole mission of the office is to “help people navigate the health care delivery system in Nevada.”

“Through 2014 the Affordable Care Act will increase access to affordable health care for individuals, families, business and seniors,” she said.

A volunteer representative working for the Nevada Senior Medicare Patrol from the attorney general’s office attended the open house to offer special informational assistance to seniors.

Edward Hayes, one of several volunteers working out of the attorney general’s Las Vegas office, said his group attends these outreach meetings to give tips to seniors on how to avoid Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

“Once we learn some lessons, we hope to make these rural open houses a regular event,” Quintana said.

Residents who have health care issues or questions are urged to contact the Consumer Health Assistance office by phone at 702-486-3587. The office is located at 555 E. Washington Ave., Suite 4800.