EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Whereas, Of the 17 counties that comprise the State of Nevada, 15

1-2 counties have populations of less than 100,000 residents; and

1-3 Whereas, These rural counties in Nevada have a shortage of hospitals,

1-4 clinical facilities, qualified doctors and nurses, laboratory and medical

1-5 equipment, emergency medical systems, ambulances and aircraft for

1-6 medical transportation and on-going educational programs that provide

1-7 information on the availability of health services; and

1-8 Whereas, The Congress of the United States narrowly addressed the

1-9 health care needs of residents living in sparsely populated rural areas in the

1-10 Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and, thus, it is the responsibility of the State

1-11 of Nevada to ensure that the needs of these residents be addressed; now,

1-12 therefore, be it

1-13 Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

1-14 Concurring, That the Legislative Commission is hereby directed to

1-15 conduct an interim study of the availability of health care in the rural areas

1-16 of this state including a review of:

1-17 1. The plans, if any, to improve and integrate emergency medical

1-18 services in rural areas;

1-19 2. The availability, accessibility and quality of facilities providing

1-20 long-term care;

1-21 3. Issues relating to the use of "telemedicine" in areas with a critical

1-22 shortage of access to medical facilities;

2-1 4. The availability of personnel with technical skills and resources to

2-2 assist in determining the financial feasibility of local hospitals;

2-3 5. The efforts made in recruiting and retaining qualified professionals

2-4 in health care services;

2-5 6. The success of rural providers of medical care in acquiring the latest

2-6 medical and laboratory equipment;

2-7 7. The development of programs that educate residents in rural areas

2-8 about the availability of health services; and

2-9 8. The availability of transportation in rural areas, including

2-10 accessibility to helicopters and ambulances, when necessary, to travel long

2-11 distances to medical care; and be it further

2-12 Resolved, That no action may be taken by the study committee on

2-13 recommended legislation unless it receives a majority vote of the Senators

2-14 on the committee and a majority vote of the Assemblymen on the

2-15 committee; and be it further

2-16 Resolved, That the Legislative Commission shall report the findings of

2-17 the study and any recommendations for legislation to the 71st session of the

2-18 Nevada Legislature.