LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Southern Nevada Health District released the 2026-2031 Southern Nevada Community Health Improvement Plan, outlining priorities and strategies to improve health outcomes in Clark County over the next five years.
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Nearly 200 community members participated in the planning process beginning in April 2025. Participants identified four public health priorities:
Access to care
Clark County had a lower percentage of adults with health insurance coverage in 2023 at 84.3% compared with Nevada at 85.4% and the United States at 89%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Hispanic and Latino adults had the lowest rate at 74%, followed by American Indian and Alaska Native adults at 75.8%.
Chronic disease
Hypertension prevalence in Clark County was 34.6% in 2023, higher than Nevada overall at 34.0% and the national rate of 34%, according to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.
Public health funding
Public health and prevention efforts account for about 3% of total U.S. health spending, despite chronic and preventable conditions driving many healthcare costs nationwide.
Substance use
The drug overdose death rate in Clark County increased from 17.5 per 100,000 residents in 2019 to 28.1 in 2023. In 2024, Clark County reported 802 confirmed drug overdose deaths, representing a nearly 16% increase compared to 2023. Opioids were involved in 67.5% of these fatalities.
“Where someone lives, what they can afford, and whether they can get care all shape their opportunity to live a healthy life,” said Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Health District.
The plan is available here.
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