MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      March 4, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services was called to order by Chairman Jan Evans at 1:50 p.m., March 4, 1993, in Room 330 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda, Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Mrs. Jan Evans, Chairman

      Mrs. Vivian L. Freeman, Vice Chairman

      Ms. Kathy M. Augustine

      Ms. Marcia de Braga

      Mr. James A. Gibbons

      Mr. Dean A. Heller

      Mr. William A. Petrak

      Mrs. Gene W. Segerblom

      Ms. Stephanie Smith

      Mr. Louis A. Toomin

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

      Mr. Wendell P. Williams

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

      None

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Kerry Carroll Davis, Research Analyst

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      Keith Macdonald, State Board of Pharmacy

      Fred Hillerby, State Board of Pharmacy

      Paula Berkley, Chiropractic Board

      Bob Cavakis, Director/Youth Correctional Services

      David Luke, Ph.D./Division of Mental Hygiene and Mental    

        Retardation

      Janice Pine, Nevada Hospital Association

      Bobbie Gang, Nevada Pharmacists Association

      Helen Foley,  Nevada Nurses Association

      Cheryl Parlin, President-Elect/NV Nurses Association

      Marsha Berkbigler, Nevada State Medical Association

      Sam McMullen, State Nursing Board

 

 

ASSEMBLY BILL 211-     Revises certain provisions relating to persons authorized to possess and administer controlled substances and dangerous drugs.

 

Keith Macdonald, State Board of Pharmacy, spoke in support of AB 211 (Exhibit C). He noted in many practitioners' offices there were people administering drugs who were not authorized to do so under the law and suggested a written agreement must exist authorizing the approval of drug administration by those qualified individuals possessing the competency and training to do so.

 

Mrs. Freeman expressed real concern about the persons giving medication and stated, as policymakers, their first area of concern should be the safety of the patient. She further commented any health care facility could have a policy within the facility itself deciding what the qualifications of a particular person should be...with no oversight other than the people who ran the institution.

 

Fred Hillerby, State Pharmacy Board, affirmed their first charge as a professional licensing board was the public's health and safety. Since the Pharmacy Board had no authority over outside areas pertaining to the administration of drugs, it was their desire to figure a way for qualified people to administer drugs in their practice setting. He indicated they were willing to work with the concerns of the committee to be sure the health and safety of the public was safeguarded.

 

Committee discussion ensued with many concerns being voiced.

 

Paula Berkley, Chiropractic Board, next spoke in support of AB 2ll. Her prepared testimony is submitted as Exhibit D.

 

Bob Cavakis, Director/Youth Correctional Services, testifying also for Child and Family Services, spoke on behalf of AB 2ll stating it clarified the language in the current law and legitimized current practice. He indicated there was a part time nurse in each of the Elko and Caliente juvenile correctional facilities and on a given day 350 inmates might require medication 24 hours per day.

 

David Luke, Ph.D./Division of Mental Hygiene and Mental Retardation, spoke in support of AB 2ll (Exhibit E).

 

Janice C. Pine/Nevada Hospital Association, stated President Jerry Ash was unable to attend and presented his written testimony (Exhibit F) in support of AB 2ll.

 

Bobbie Gang, representing the Nevada Pharmacists Association, stated the Association would like to support the concept of AB 2ll, its purpose being to assign responsibility for what is current practice, thus providing for more accountability in the use of drugs.

 

Helen Foley/Nevada Nurses Association, introduced President-Elect Cheryl Parlin and Mary Koithan, President of Nevada Nurses Association. Ms. Foley's prepared testimony in opposition to AB 2ll is submitted as Exhibit G. President-Elect Parlin gave a brief explanation of a nurse/patient relationship, and targeted interaction with a patient as a big key in medication administration. She indicated it laid a basis for assessment as to whether or not a medication would be given as ordered inasmuch as social/psychological as well as physical assessments must be made at the same time.

 

Marsha Berkbigler/Nevada State Medical Association, questioned portions of AB 2ll and referenced the term "administer" as to how it was to be defined. She stated it was the policy of the State Medical Association not to support the increase in the scope of practice of any alternative health care group.

 

Sam McMullen, representing the State Nursing Board, said they would like to work with the subcommittee to address what they believed were serious concerns with AB 2ll.

 

Since there were no further remarks on AB 2ll, Mrs. Evans declared the hearing closed and referred the bill to a subcommittee with members Mrs. Freeman, Mr. Heller and Mr. Williams.

 

Due to lack of time Mrs. Evans requested AB 245 be re-posted for a future hearing date.

 

There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

 

      RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

                             

      CHRISTINE SHAW

      Committee Secretary

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Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services

March 4, 1993

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