Illegal medical procedures to be combatted with newly formed task force, campaign

RENO -- There is a growing problem of unlicensed healthcare in Nevada’s Latino community as uncertified individuals have been posing as qualified healthcare providers and have been illegally practicing medicine. In response to a rising public health concern, the UNR Latino Research Center, the Nevada State Health Division and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office are working together to build a statewide campaign that will raise awareness to educate the community and help stop people from falling prey to these fake physicians.

In addition to the public awareness campaign, developed and organized by the UNR Latino Research Center, former Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa is assisting with the creation of a Task Force and creation of an Action Plan to increase enforcement and awareness against those who are doing illegal activities in the medical field.

"This is an important emerging law enforcement and public health issue.  The Attorney General's Office is committed to a public-private collaborative partnership to address the problem of unlicensed health care in Nevada,” said Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto.

The first Task Force meeting will be a videoconference between Carson City and Las Vegas locations. The meeting will take place on February 28^th at 1:00 in room 2134 of the Legislative Counsel Bureau on 401 South Carson Street in Carson City and in room 4412 of the Grant Sawyer Building on 555 East Washington Ave. in Las Vegas. There are two additional Task Force meetings scheduled for March 28^th and April 24^th. These meetings are open to the public and the press.

This initiative is paid for by United Health Settlement Funds. For more information about the public awareness campaign, please visit www.unr.edu/latinocenter