MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      April 15, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services was called to order by Chairman Jan Evans at 1:20 p.m., April 15, 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 - Excused

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

      None

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Kerry Carroll Davis, Research Analyst

     

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      L. Timothy Terry/Medicaid Fraud Division

      Myla Florence, Administrator/State Welfare Division

      Dr. Nancy Rody/Maternal & Child Health Advisory Board

      Janine Hansen, State President/Nevada Eagle Forum

      Barbara Clark, Division Manager/Clark County Social                            Services

 

 

     

Chairman Evans requested committee introduction of the following Bill Draft Requests:

 

      BDR 40-838  Revises requirement to mark area of proposed excavation or demolition.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN PETRAK MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF

      BDR 40-838.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN DE BRAGA SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE PRESENT.

 

      **********

 

      BDR 38-889  Authorizes welfare division of department of human resources to recover benefits paid for assistance to medically indigent.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN TOOMIN MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 38-889.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN SEGERBLOM SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE PRESENT.

 

      **********

 

ASSEMBLY BILL 167Enlarges criminal provisions against false claims for health care.

 

L. Timothy Terry, Medicaid Fraud Division, presented Amendment No. 267 to AB 167 (Exhibit C.)

 

      MRS. FREEMAN MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS AB 167.

 

      MR. PETRAK SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. (ASSEMBLYMEN WILLIAMS, SMITH, AUGUSTINE, GIBBONS AND HELLER WERE ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.)

 

      **********

 

ASSEMBLY BILL 277:      Expands eligibility for coverage pursuant to state plan for assistance to medically indigent.

 

Myla Florence, Administrator/State Welfare Division, presented the updated fiscal note (Exhibit D) to AB 277 entitled "Presumptive Eligibility - Costs."

 

Dr. Nancy Rody/Maternal & Child Health Advisory Board, presented the Cost Benefit Analysis of Presumptive Eligibility (AB 277). This is included as Exhibit E.

 

Mrs. Evans questioned Ms. Florence as to whether additional funding would be necessary or whether costs already were within the budget. She responded it would entail new costs as additions were not considered in terms of case load growth.

 

Ms. Florence confirmed Mr. Toomin's assumption, "By front-loading the front end, many dollars would be saved on the back end."

 

      MRS. FREEMAN MOVED DO PASS ON AB 277.

 

      MR. PETRAK SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. (ASSEMBLYMEN WILLIAMS,          SMITH, AUGUSTINE, GIBBONS AND HELLER WERE ABSENT AT THE         TIME OF THE VOTE.)

 

      **********

 

ACR 37:     Urges State Welfare Administrator to require recipients of Medicaid to participate in educational program on family planning as condition of receiving certain financial assistance.

 

Speaking in support of ACR 37, Mrs. Freeman indicated since her involvement in the study of Medicaid in 1991, it became clear the provision of family planning would be most beneficial to Medicaid recipients. She said the bill spoke for itself and asked Myla Florence to speak to the committee regarding the amendment to ACR 37.  Ms. Florence described the word changes in the amendment (Exhibit F) and answered questions from committee members.

 

Janine Hansen, State President/Nevada Eagle Forum, indicated much work had been done the past two years on the issue of adoption which, she believed, should be included in ACR 37. Her suggestion was to include language on adoption alternatives on lines 6 and 13. She deemed it important to get information on adoption out to people, so when and if a choice had to be made, that information would be available to them. Ms. Florence indicated materials on adoption were available at district offices and were furnished to all providers.

 

Responding to Mr. Heller's inquiry as to a fiscal note, Ms. Florence indicated the resolution would direct her to encourage providers to carry out the program...thus, any cost to the state would not be anticipated.

 

Mr. Gibbons wondered to what extent the federal government's participation would increase. Ms. Florence indicated there were enhanced federal funds for the provision of family planning services and would merely reflect the Medicaid cost to the state.

 

Ms. de Braga noted since ACR 37 was directed to Medicaid recipients, adoption would not be an appropriate issue to be brought into the resolution. Ms. Florence agreed.

 

Mrs. Freeman suggested working with Ms. Florence and Mr. Heller in a subcommittee in order to discuss Ms. Hansen's concerns and to bring back an amendment to the committee.

 

There being no further testimony, Mrs. Evans closed the hearing on ACR 37.

 

      **********

 

 

ASSEMBLY BILL 383:      Broadening authority of local governments to regulate child care facilities.

 

Barbara Clark, Division Manager/Clark County Social Services,

requested committee support of AB 383 with an amendment. Her written testimony is submitted as Exhibit G.

 

Following a brief discussion between Ms. Clark and committee members, Mrs. Evans thought it beneficial for Ms. Clark and a small group of committee members to organize a small work session in order to formulate appropriate language for the amendment. Mrs. Evans closed the hearing on AB 383, asking Ms. Smith to chair the subcommittee with members de Braga and Segerblom. Patricia Hedgecoth/Division of Child and Family Services and Ms. Jerry Tracy of Washoe County Department of Social Services indicated they would like to be participants in the subcommittee.

 

 

 

 

 

There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.

 

      RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

                             

      CHRISTINE SHAW

      Committee Secretary

 

 

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Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services

April 15, 1993

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