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 Section 1. 1. The task force on the policy of the State of Nevada

1-2 concerning access to public health services, consisting of 15 members, is

1-3 hereby created. The membership of the task force consists of:

1-4 (a) Nine members appointed by the Governor in accordance with

1-5 subsection 2;

1-6 (b) Three members appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate in

1-7 accordance with subsection 3; and

1-8 (c) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly in

1-9 accordance with subsection 3.

1-10 2. The Governor shall appoint to the task force:

1-11 (a) One representative of the State of Nevada who has experience in the

1-12 field of health care;

1-13 (b) One representative of the Nevada State Medical Association;

1-14 (c) One representative of the Culinary Workers Union;

1-15 (d) One representative of the insurance industry of the State of Nevada;

1-16 (e) One representative of Nevadans for Affordable Health Care;

1-17 (f) One representative of the Nevada Public Health Foundation;

1-18 (g) One representative of the Nevada Women’s Lobby;

2-1 (h) One representative of the Nevada Association of Health Plans; and

2-2 (i) One member of the public.

2-3 3. The Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly

2-4 shall each ensure that at least one of the members whom they appoint to the

2-5 task force is a member of the minority party.

2-6 4. The Governor shall select a chairman and a vice chairman from

2-7 among the membership of the task force.

2-8 5. For each day or portion of a day during which a member of the task

2-9 force who is a legislator attends a meeting of the task force or is otherwise

2-10 engaged in the business of the task force, except during a regular or special

2-11 session of the Legislature, he is entitled to receive the:

2-12 (a) Compensation provided for a majority of the members of the

2-13 Legislature during the first 60 days of the preceding session;

2-14 (b) Per diem allowance provided for state officers and employees

2-15 generally; and

2-16 (c) Travel expenses provided pursuant to NRS 218.2207.

2-17 The compensation, per diem allowances and travel expenses of the

2-18 legislative members of the task force must be paid from the legislative fund.

2-19 6. Each member of the task force who is not a legislator:

2-20 (a) Is entitled to receive a salary of $80 for each day or portion of a day

2-21 during which he attends a meeting of the task force; and

2-22 (b) Is entitled to receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses

2-23 provided for state officers and employees generally for each day or portion

2-24 of a day during which he attends a meeting of the task force or is otherwise

2-25 engaged in the business of the task force.

2-26 7. The Department of Human Resources and the Division of Insurance

2-27 of the Department of Business and Industry shall provide the necessary

2-28 staff to assist the task force in performing its duties.

2-29 Sec. 2. 1. The task force on the policy of the State of Nevada

2-30 concerning access to public health services shall appoint a technical

2-31 advisory committee that consists of persons who have experience with

2-32 public health issues to assist the task force concerning technical issues.

2-33 2. The technical advisory committee must include, without limitation,

2-34 persons who are employed by the University of Nevada School of Medicine

2-35 and the dental school to be established in this state pursuant to Assembly

2-36 Bill No. 527 of this session and who are recommended by the Board of

2-37 Regents of the University of Nevada.

2-38 Sec. 3. The task force on the policy of the State of Nevada concerning

2-39 access to public health services shall:

2-40 1. Establish the basic coverage that must be included in each policy of

2-41 health insurance and health plan that is issued in the State of Nevada. To

2-42 determine the basic coverage, the task force shall consider public policy

3-1 and actuarial evidence, including, without limitation, an analysis of the cost

3-2 of providing the coverage. The basic coverage must be established as the

3-3 minimum coverage to be offered which may be augmented based upon the

3-4 needs of insureds or employees and on economic considerations.

3-5 2. Identify, review and prioritize the basic health care services,

3-6 including, without limitation, public health assessments and screenings, to

3-7 which all residents of the State of Nevada should have access, regardless of

3-8 whether they have health insurance. The task force shall identify the costs

3-9 and benefits of providing each of these basic health care services,

3-10 including, without limitation, a consideration of at-risk persons and the

3-11 clinical consensus on the positive value of each preventative, screening and

3-12 primary health care service. The review must include, without limitation, a

3-13 review of methods to increase access to health care services for members of

3-14 minority groups and other persons who are medically underserved in this

3-15 state.

3-16 3. Identify and analyze current public and private resources within this

3-17 state that provide health care services and coverage to persons without

3-18 health insurance, including, without limitation, Medicaid, the children’s

3-19 health insurance program, county indigent health programs, care provided

3-20 by hospitals or charities, federally qualified health centers, clinics of county

3-21 health departments and community health nurses. The analysis must

3-22 include, without limitation, a compilation of data concerning:

3-23 (a) Persons in this state who do not have health insurance;

3-24 (b) The cost of providing health care services to persons in this state;

3-25 (c) Persons who receive services from the public and private resources

3-26 identified by the task force;

3-27 (d) The public health care needs of minority groups and other persons

3-28 who are medically underserved and the services available to these groups

3-29 and persons; and

3-30 (e) The demographics of persons in this state who are covered by public

3-31 or private health insurance and the demographics of persons in this state

3-32 who are not covered by public or private health insurance.

3-33 Sec. 4. 1. The task force on the policy of the State of Nevada

3-34 concerning access to public health services shall sponsor forums throughout

3-35 the State of Nevada, if money for the forums is provided by the Nevada

3-36 Public Health Foundation, to provide information to the public concerning

3-37 the work of the task force and to obtain public comment on the work of the

3-38 task force.

3-39 2. The forums must include, without limitation, participation by

3-40 providers of public health care, health care advocacy groups and health

3-41 care professionals.

4-1 Sec. 5. 1. The task force on the policy of the State of Nevada

4-2 concerning access to public health services shall hold not less than eight

4-3 meetings before the 71st session of the Nevada Legislature convenes, and

4-4 more frequently if needed.

4-5 2. In carrying out its duties, the task force may contract for consulting

4-6 services and other technical assistance.

4-7 3. The task force shall, on or before December 1, 2000, submit written

4-8 recommendations to the Governor and to the Director of the Legislative

4-9 Counsel Bureau for transmission to the 71st session of the Nevada

4-10 Legislature. Such recommendations must include, without limitation,

4-11 recommendations concerning:

4-12 (a) The structure of, contents of and services that must be included in a

4-13 basic plan of health coverage offered to residents of this state;

4-14 (b) The establishment of minimum public health services that must be

4-15 provided to each resident of this state, regardless of his ability to pay,

4-16 including, without limitation, preventative care, health screenings, primary

4-17 care services and immunizations;

4-18 (c) Potential plans and programs to improve the quality of health care

4-19 services provided to members of minority groups and other persons who

4-20 are medically underserved and to increase access to health care services for

4-21 members of minority groups and other persons who are medically

4-22 underserved;

4-23 (d) Methods to provide funding to public health clinics to enable them to

4-24 provide health care services to residents of this state; and

4-25 (e) An estimate of the costs and benefits of coordinating insurance

4-26 coverage provided by the private sector with public health care services.

4-27 Sec. 6. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to

4-28 the Department of Human Resources the sum of $50,000 for use by the task

4-29 force on the policy of the State of Nevada concerning access to public

4-30 health services to pay for the costs associated with carrying out the

4-31 provisions of this act.

4-32 2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1

4-33 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2001, and reverts to

4-34 the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have

4-35 been made.

4-36 Sec. 7. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999.