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

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

hereby created. The membership of the task force consists of:

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

subsection 2;

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

accordance with subsection 3; and

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

accordance with subsection 3.

2. The Governor shall appoint to the task force:

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

field of health care;

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

(c) One representative of the Culinary Workers Union;

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

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

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

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

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

(i) One member of the public.

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

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

task force is a member of the minority party.

4. The Governor shall select a chairman and a vice chairman from

among the membership of the task force.

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

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

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

session of the Legislature, he is entitled to receive the:

(a) Compensation provided for a majority of the members of the

Legislature during the first 60 days of the preceding session;

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

generally; and

(c) Travel expenses provided pursuant to NRS 218.2207.

The compensation, per diem allowances and travel expenses of the

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

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

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

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

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

provided for state officers and employees generally for each day or portion

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

engaged in the business of the task force.

7. The Department of Human Resources and the Division of Insurance

of the Department of Business and Industry shall provide the necessary

staff to assist the task force in performing its duties.

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

concerning access to public health services shall appoint a technical

advisory committee that consists of persons who have experience with

public health issues to assist the task force concerning technical issues.

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

persons who are employed by the University of Nevada School of Medicine

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

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

Regents of the University of Nevada.

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

access to public health services shall:

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

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

determine the basic coverage, the task force shall consider public policy

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

of providing the coverage. The basic coverage must be established as the

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

needs of insureds or employees and on economic considerations.

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

including, without limitation, public health assessments and screenings, to

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

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

and benefits of providing each of these basic health care services,

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

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

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

review of methods to increase access to health care services for members of

minority groups and other persons who are medically underserved in this

state.

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

state that provide health care services and coverage to persons without

health insurance, including, without limitation, Medicaid, the children’s

health insurance program, county indigent health programs, care provided

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

health departments and community health nurses. The analysis must

include, without limitation, a compilation of data concerning:

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

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

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

identified by the task force;

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

who are medically underserved and the services available to these groups

and persons; and

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

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

who are not covered by public or private health insurance.

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

concerning access to public health services shall sponsor forums throughout

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

Public Health Foundation, to provide information to the public concerning

the work of the task force and to obtain public comment on the work of the

task force.

2. The forums must include, without limitation, participation by

providers of public health care, health care advocacy groups and health

care professionals.

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

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

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

more frequently if needed.

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

services and other technical assistance.

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

recommendations to the Governor and to the Director of the Legislative

Counsel Bureau for transmission to the 71st session of the Nevada

Legislature. Such recommendations must include, without limitation,

recommendations concerning:

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

basic plan of health coverage offered to residents of this state;

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

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

including, without limitation, preventative care, health screenings, primary

care services and immunizations;

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

services provided to members of minority groups and other persons who

are medically underserved and to increase access to health care services for

members of minority groups and other persons who are medically

underserved;

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

provide health care services to residents of this state; and

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

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

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

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

force on the policy of the State of Nevada concerning access to public

health services to pay for the costs associated with carrying out the

provisions of this act.

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

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

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

been made.

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

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