Senate Bill No. 135–Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

February 5, 1999

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Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

SUMMARY—Requires certain hospitals that are designated as centers for treatment of trauma to offer same lowest rate for trauma services to all persons who contract or are interested in contracting with such hospitals for services. (BDR 40-1163)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

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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).

 

AN ACT relating to health care; requiring certain hospitals that are designated as centers for the treatment of trauma to offer the lowest rate that they offer to a person who contracts with the hospital for services for the treatment of trauma to any other person seeking to contract with that hospital for such services; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. NRS 450B.237 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 450B.237 1. The state board of health shall establish a program for

1-3 treating persons who require treatment for trauma and for transporting and

1-4 admitting such persons to centers for the treatment of trauma. The program

1-5 must provide for the development, operation and maintenance of a system

1-6 of communication to be used in transporting such persons to the

1-7 appropriate centers.

1-8 2. The state board of health shall adopt regulations which establish the

1-9 standards for the designation of hospitals as centers for the treatment of

1-10 trauma. The state board of health shall consider the standards adopted by

1-11 the American College of Surgeons for a center for the treatment of trauma

1-12 as a guide for such regulations. The administrator of the health division

1-13 shall not approve a proposal to designate a hospital as a center for the

1-14 treatment of trauma unless the hospital meets the standards.

2-1 3. Upon approval by the administrator of the health division of a

2-2 proposal to designate a hospital as a center for the treatment of trauma, he

2-3 shall issue written approval which designates the hospital as such a center.

2-4 As a condition of continuing such a designation , the hospital must comply

2-5 with the following requirements:

2-6 (a) The hospital must admit any injured person who requires medical

2-7 care ; [.]

2-8 (b) Any physician who provides treatment for trauma must be qualified

2-9 to provide that treatment ; [.]

2-10 (c) The hospital must maintain the standards specified in the regulations

2-11 adopted pursuant to subsection 2 [.] ; and

2-12 (d) If the hospital is designated as a level I or II center for the

2-13 treatment of trauma by the administrator of the health division, is located

2-14 in a county whose population is less than 400,000, and offers discounted

2-15 rates for services for the treatment of trauma to a person who contracts

2-16 with the hospital for such services, the hospital must offer the lowest rate

2-17 offered to that person to any other person seeking a contract with the

2-18 hospital for such services.

2-19 Sec. 2. The provisions of this act apply to all contracts for the services

2-20 of a hospital designated as a center for the treatment of trauma entered into

2-21 or renewed on or after July 1, 1999.

2-22 Sec. 3. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999.

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