Senate Bill No. 484–Committee on Human
Resources and Facilities
CHAPTER..........
Whereas, As a result of the extremely rapid increase in the population of the State of Nevada, there currently exists an insufficient number of hospital beds adequately to serve the needs of its residents for the provision of emergency services and care; and
Whereas, When a hospital has exhausted its ability to provide the beds and staff necessary for the adequate provision of emergency services and care, emergency patients must be diverted to other hospitals; and
Whereas, The diversion of emergency patients is occurring with alarming frequency in this state, often resulting in lengthy delays before emergency personnel can provide those patients with the emergency services and care they urgently need; and
Whereas, The diversion of emergency patients appears to be having a significant adverse effect on the delivery and costs of health care services in this state; now, therefore,
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Legislative Committee on Health Care shall:
1. Conduct a study of the diversion of patients in need of emergency
services and care from hospitals that lack sufficient resources to provide
the emergency services and care needed by those patients. The study must
include an examination of:
(a) The causes of those diversions; and
(b) The effect of those diversions on:
(1) The delivery of health care services to patients in this state; and
(2) The costs of health care incurred by patients and employers in this
state.
2. Submit a report of its findings and any recommendations for
legislation to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for
transmission to the appropriate standing committees of the 72nd session of
the Nevada Legislature.
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001, and expires by
limitation on June 30, 2003.
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