Nevada is set to receive a large infusion of federal money aimed at reshaping how healthcare reaches rural communities, with workforce changes at the center of the plan.
The Nevada Academy of Physician Associates said the state has been awarded funding through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, a multi-year effort that will direct up to $50 billion nationwide to strengthen rural healthcare delivery.
Nevada is expected to receive $179,931,608 to support reforms focused on access, outcomes, and the healthcare workforce.
As part of its application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the state backed the physician associate compact, a move designed to cut down on the time and cost it takes for physician associates to practice across state lines, whether in person or through telemedicine.
“This award reflects the federal government’s clear encouragement for states to modernize how care teams operate, and we are encouraged that Nevada is stepping forward with specific actions to strengthen PA practice laws as part of this effort,” said NAPA President Alyssa Nishihira, PA-C.
Federal officials have pointed to reforms that allow providers to work at the top of their license and make licensure more portable as effective ways to expand rural access and boost workforce capacity.
By highlighting those steps, Nevada positioned itself as a strong applicant and signaled it was ready to turn federal dollars into policy changes.
“PAs are one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions in the country, with more than 1,350 PAs practicing in Nevada and thousands more serving rural and underserved communities nationwide,” Nishihira added. “Ensuring PAs can fully utilize their education and training is essential to meeting rising patient demand, especially as rural communities continue to face persistent workforce shortages.”
NAPA said state leaders are recognizing that updating PA practice laws aligns with federal priorities and plays a key role in helping people get timely care closer to home.
“As a past president of the Nevada Academy of Physician Associates and an Associate Professor and Program Director of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine PA Studies Program, I see how policy decisions directly affect workforce capacity,” said Brian S. Lauf, DMSc, PA-C. “Federal investments paired with reforms like PA licensure portability are critical to training, retaining, and deploying PAs to meet the needs of Nevada’s rural and underserved communities.”
As the Rural Health Transformation Program moves toward implementation, the group said it plans to work with policymakers, agencies, and health systems to follow through on the commitments tied to the funding.
