A.C.R. 21


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 21--Committee on 
    Health
                and Human Services

                   April 6, 1995
                 _____________

Referred to Concurrent Committees on Health and Huma
    n Services
           and Elections and Procedures


SUMMARY--Directs development of proposal to amend 
          state plan for assistance to medically 
          indigent to include coverage for treatment 
          of substance abuse provided to recipient of 
          Medicaid in nonhospital setting. 
          (BDR R-1269)




EXPLANATION--Matter in italics is new; matter in bra
ckets [ ] is material to be omitted.

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION--Directing the development of a 
        proposal to amend the state plan for assistance to the 
        medically indigent to include coverage for the treatment of 
        substance abuse provided to a recipient of Medicaid in a 
        nonhospital setting.


  WHEREAS, The cost of providing health care to 
persons eligible for Medicaid has become a primary concern 
of the Legislature of this state; and
  WHEREAS, Studies indicate that at least 20 
percent of the money spent by Medicaid for hospital care is 
attributable to substance abuse; and
  WHEREAS, Treatment for substance abuse for 
recipients of Medicaid is often covered only if provided in 
a hospital; and
  WHEREAS, Services provided in a hospital for 
the treatment of substance abuse are often more costly than 
services provided in a nonhospital setting; now, therefore, 
be it
  RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, THE 
SENATE CONCURRING, That the Administrator of the 
Welfare Division of the Department of Human Resources and 
the Chairman of the Commission on Substance Abuse Education, 
Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment and the Chief of the 
Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse of the Department of 
Employment, Training and Rehabilitation are hereby directed 
to coordinate efforts to:
  1.  Develop a proposal to amend the state plan for 
assistance to the medically indigent adopted pursuant to NRS 
422.237 to include coverage for the treatment of substance 
abuse provided in a nonhospital setting. The proposal must 
be presented to the State Welfare Board for consideration on 
or before October 1, 1996.
  2.  Seek all necessary federal waivers and approvals to 
carry out the objectives of the proposal.
And be it further
  RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly 
prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to the 
Administrator of the Welfare Division of the Department of 
Human Resources and to the Chairman of the Commission on 
Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, Enforcement and 
Treatment and to the Chief of the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug 
Abuse of the Department of Employment, Training and 
Rehabilitation.

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