Contact: Teri Williams, Public
Information Officer
Phone: (702) 486-0407; E-mail: twilliams@business.nv.gov
For
Immediate Release: January 31, 2018
Nevada Division of
Insurance named 2017 Business and Industry Agency of the Year
Carson
City, NV- Nevada Department of Business and Industry
Director C.J. Manthe announced that the Nevada Division of Insurance has been
named the Department’s 2017 Agency of the Year. The award was presented
to Administrator Barbara Richardson and agency staff in recognition of the
agency’s accomplishments that have positively impacted thousands of Nevadans.
“In spite of many challenges facing the insurance industry, the
Division of Insurance continues to find innovative ways to educate and assist
consumers, collaborate with other state officials to find solutions and improve
their operational efficiencies,” said Manthe. “Their forward-thinking
approach to fostering a regulatory environment that benefits both the industry
and consumers has not gone unnoticed.”
Established
by the Nevada Legislature in 1951, the Division’s mission is to protect the
rights of Nevada consumers in their experiences with Nevada’s $14 billion
insurance industry, and to ensure the financial solvency of insurers by
advancing a sound regulatory environment that is responsive to the insurance
needs of Nevada. During fiscal year 2017, the agency investigated more
than 3,200 consumer complaints and recovered more than $5 million on behalf of
consumers.
Under
the leadership of Administrator Barbara Richardson, the Division fulfils its
important mission with just 85 full time employees. The Division is organized
into ten operational sections, which demonstrate the depth and breadth of the
agency’s mandate: administrative, legal and enforcement, corporate and
financial affairs, consumer, life and health, producer licensing, captive
insurer, market compliance, self-insured workers compensation, and property and
casualty.
During
Commissioner Richardson’s tenure, she, along with her management team have
implemented a number of innovative and progressive initiatives including:
·
Enhanced
communication and outreach to the public to inform Nevadans about health
insurance enrollment opportunities;
·
Creation
of online educational tools to help consumers with homeowners, automobile,
title, health and life insurance products;
·
Collaboration
with the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange and the office of Governor
Brian Sandoval with insurance carriers to identify solutions for the 14
counties without access to Qualified Health Plans; and
·
Implementation
of emergency regulations for employee assistance programs to allow for
additional counseling services for those impacted by the One October shooting
in Las Vegas.
In
addition to these initiatives, the Division has developed a strategic plan
through 2021 aligned with Governor Sandoval’s strategic planning framework that
provides a roadmap to facilitate the ongoing pursuit of excellence and further
elevate the level of service to the industry and consumers in Nevada.
“I am so proud of every
one of the hardworking and dedicated staff of the Division of Insurance who
enjoy new challenges and strive to serve our state consumers in innovated ways,
while still maintaining their focus on the goals of consumer protection,” said
Commissioner Richardson. “They are really the recipients
of this award and I know it will serve as motivation for them to continue
striving for the benefit of the Nevada citizens.”
About the Department of
Business and Industry
The Department of Business and Industry is a cabinet level
agency in Nevada State government. Our objective is to encourage and promote
the development and growth of business and to ensure the legal operation of
business in order to protect consumers by maintaining a fair and competitive
regulatory environment. The Director’s office manages a number of programs and
initiatives to address the needs of businesses and consumers including business
advocacy, a comprehensive online business resource center, bond financing
programs, constituent services and consumer affairs. To learn more, visit http://business.nv.gov.
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