County Commission proceeds with cuts to services at UMC

The Clark County Commission directed staff to proceed with cuts to services at University Medical Center after accepting a report today from UMC administrators.

The cuts are to offset an estimated $8 million shortfall anticipated with a first wave of Medicaid cuts.

The services that will soon be lost at UMC include its high-risk obstetrical unit, outpatient kidney dialysis service, outpatient mammography program, outpatient coumadin therapy, post-operative hand clinic and prenatal services at the hospital's Women's Center.

The hospital is also shedding its outpatient oncology service, which upset some commissioners and members of the public.

As a result, Rory Reid, commission chair, asked the county's staff to schedule a meeting with community stakeholders and private and public health care providers to determine how to continue providing cancer treatment to uninsured individuals.