People across Las Vegas are feeling unprecedented economic pressures — from higher grocery and housing costs to childcare that ranks among the least affordable in the country. When rising healthcare costs are added to the mix in Las Vegas, many families face tough decisions that too often include delaying or skipping needed care while trying to make ends meet. That hurts community health, strains workforce productivity, and challenges our regional economy. It’s time to confront the healthcare affordability challenge head on.
WHY HEALTHCARE COSTS KEEP
CLIMBING
The first step in addressing affordability in Las Vegas and across the Silver State is recognizing what drives costs. Many factors are driving increases in healthcare costs — these are some of the biggest factors:
• Aging population — More older adults need more complex and costly care.
• Chronic conditions — Conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are becoming more common and more expensive to treat.
• Drug costs, including specialty drugs — Prices for many existing drugs are rising faster than inflation, and new therapies often launch at record-high prices.
• Provider consolidation — When healthcare providers merge, it can lead to higher prices and fewer choices.
• Fraud, waste, and abuse — The complexity of our system can make it easier for improper claims to slip through.
• Legislation and regulation — Changes at the federal and state levels can add costs to the system year after year.
As Southern Nevada continues to grow and attract new residents and visitors, demand for care also increases. Managing that growth sustainably is essential to keeping care affordable.
WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Solving a multi factor affordability challenge requires every part of the healthcare ecosystem to act. Health plans, hospitals and health systems, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, lawmakers, and individuals all need a seat at the table.
Healthcare providers can lean into value-based care models that reward better outcomes, not the volume of services. Lawmakers can evaluate the full impact of proposed policies on costs and access. And individuals can engage in their health journeys, taking time to understand their coverage and benefits so they can make the most of the tools, programs, and resources designed to help navigate options and manage costs.
HOW WE’RE MAKING
HEALTHCARE MORE
AFFORDABLE IN LAS VEGAS
At Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we’re pursuing solutions on behalf of our members in Nevada and right here in Las Vegas. Affordability is central to improving health outcomes and strengthening economic resilience. Rising costs ripple through businesses and communities, affecting productivity and long-term well-being. That’s why our approach goes beyond traditional cost control measures.
Here are some of the ways we’re working to make healthcare more affordable in Nevada:
• Helping seniors manage complex care so they avoid unnecessary hospital stays.
• Offering disease management programs that help members better control chronic conditions.
• Negotiating lower prices for prescription drugs, especially expensive specialty drugs.
• Working with providers to pay them based on the quality of care they deliver, not the number of services they provide.
• Giving members (in certain plans) rewards through programs like SmartShopper when they use our tools to compare prices.
• Using AI to find potentially fraudulent activity and improper claims.
• Advocating for policies at both the state and federal levels that support affordability and access.
Our strategy blends proven tools with fresh thinking: expanding access to high-quality care, simplifying benefit designs, preventing fraud and waste, focusing on whole person care, and addressing the full spectrum of health, including the physical, behavioral, and social drivers of health.
LOOKING AHEAD
Historically, health plans focused on paying for care and controlling costs. Today, we recognize that most of what influences health happens outside clinical settings. Behavioral health and social drivers — like housing stability, transportation, and nutrition—play critical roles. Overlooking them only compounds costs.
That’s why it’s so important for stakeholders across Las Vegas and throughout the state to work together to address rising costs. By collaborating, we can build a more affordable, accessible, and effective healthcare system for every family in Nevada.
Learn more about our efforts at anthem.com/affordabilityinnevada.
Mike Murphy is president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada.
