Assembly Bill No. 52–Assemblymen Bache, Parks, McClain, Koivisto and Giunchigliani

Prefiled January 29, 2001

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Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

SUMMARY—Limits fees which providers of health services that accept insurance payments may collect from patients and requires legislative audit of University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. (BDR 40‑655)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.

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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 providers of health services; limiting the fees which providers that accept insurance payments may collect from patients; requiring the legislative auditor to conduct an audit of the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada; making an appropriation; 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. Chapter 439B of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

1-2 a new section to read as follows:

1-3 1. If a practitioner or health facility:

1-4 (a) Agrees to accept any payment or reimbursement from an insurer

1-5 of a patient for the provision of any health services to the patient, the

1-6 practitioner or health facility shall not collect or seek to collect from the

1-7 patient any fees or costs relating to the health services for which the

1-8 practitioner or health facility agreed to accept payment or

1-9 reimbursement, other than any copayment, deductible or coinsurance

1-10 required by the insurer.

1-11 (b) Does not agree to accept any payment or reimbursement from an

1-12 insurer of a patient for the provision of a particular health service to the

1-13 patient, the practitioner or health facility shall, except in an emergency,

1-14 inform the patient of that fact before providing that service.

1-15 2. For the purposes of this section:

1-16 (a) “Health services” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS

1-17 439A.017.

1-18 (b) “Insurer” means any insurer or other organization authorized

1-19 pursuant to Title 57 of NRS to conduct business in this state that pays or

2-1 reimburses any fees or costs for the provision of any health services to an

2-2 insured.

2-3 Sec. 2. 1. The legislative auditor shall conduct an audit of the

2-4 University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. The audit must include an

2-5 examination of the methods and procedures used for the billing of insurers

2-6 and patients for the provision of health care services.

2-7 2. The legislative auditor shall present a final written report of the

2-8 audit to the audit subcommittee of the legislative commission not later than

2-9 February 3, 2003.

2-10 3. To the extent that the provisions of NRS 218.737 to 218.890,

2-11 inclusive, are consistent with the requirements of this section, those

2-12 provisions apply to the audit conducted pursuant to this section. For the

2-13 purposes of this subsection, the University Medical Center of Southern

2-14 Nevada shall be deemed to be an agency of the state.

2-15 4. Upon the request of the legislative auditor or his authorized

2-16 representative, the officers and employees of the University Medical

2-17 Center of Southern Nevada shall make available to the legislative auditor

2-18 any of their books, accounts, claims, reports, vouchers or other records of

2-19 information, confidential or otherwise and irrespective of their form or

2-20 location, which the legislative auditor deems necessary to conduct the audit

2-21 required by this section.

2-22 Sec. 3. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund

2-23 to the audit division of the legislative counsel bureau the sum of $15,000 to

2-24 carry out the provisions of section 2 of this act.

2-25 2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1

2-26 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2003, and reverts to

2-27 the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have

2-28 been made.

2-29 Sec. 4. 1. This section and section 3 of this act become effective

2-30 upon passage and approval.

2-31 2. Sections 1 and 2 of this act become effective on October 1, 2001.

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