LAS VEGAS — Aetna Better Health of Nevada, the Medicaid managed care business of Aetna, a CVS Health company, today announced it has donated $65,000 to R.E.A.C.H, a non-profit organization that works to improve community health services and access to care in Nevada. The funding will help individuals with or without health insurance to receive basic health care services at no cost.

“Making sure underserved communities have access to vital health services aligns with our broader community-based strategy to ensure health equity,” said Dwayne Dabbs, Interim CEO, Aetna Better Health of Nevada. “Through our partnership with R.E.A.C.H., we have an opportunity to build on a shared commitment to address health disparities, reduce barriers to care and promote improved health outcomes in vulnerable populations.”

Throughout the year, Aetna and R.E.A.C.H. will host ‘La Ruta de la Salud Aetna / The Aetna Route of Health’ community events in low-income areas of Clark and Washoe Counties. The R.E.A.C.H. team will bring its mobile health clinic to each event where individuals and families in attendance can access services at no cost. Services may include basic adult and pediatric wellness exams, vision screenings, glucose, blood pressure and HIV tests. The services offered at each event will vary and staffing may include physicians, pharmacists, social workers, peer support recovery specialists, community health workers, promotoras or others from local organizations and nonprofits.

Additionally, $15,000 of Aetna’s contribution will go toward the R.E.A.C.H Relief Program, providing economic support to 150 families in need through $100 gift cards. Since the program’s inception in 2020, more than 4,200 Nevada families in need have received gift cards to use toward the purchase of essential items such as diapers, toiletries, prescriptions, food and bills.

“Latinos are disproportionately burdened with chronic diseases that can negatively affect quality of life, morbidity and mortality,” said Luis Aceves, Implementation and Development Manager for R.E.A.C.H. “We are grateful to Aetna for this generous contribution that will help us provide much-needed health services and make a significant impact for local families to improve their health and wellbeing.”

On Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5, R.E.A.C.H.’s mobile health clinic will be on-hand at Aetna’s Community Vaccine Clinics at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior Center in North Las Vegas. Aetna is hosting free, walk-in vaccine clinics to the public to encourage vaccine confidence and help families resume pre-pandemic activities. The COVID-19 vaccine is available at no cost. While walk-ins are welcome, individuals who wish to get vaccinated at an Aetna Vaccine Clinic are encouraged to schedule an appointment online by visiting the Aetna community clinic website. The R.E.A.C.H. team will be in attendance both days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to assist Spanish-speaking attendees with language and cultural translations.

Details about upcoming ‘La Ruta de la Salud Aetna / The Aetna Route of Health’ events will be available at www.reachlv.org