(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

 

Senate Bill No. 484–Committee on Human
Resources and Facilities

 

March 26, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

SUMMARY—Requires Legislative Committee on Health Care to study diversion of patients in need of emergency services and care from hospitals that lack sufficient resources to provide needed services and care. (BDR S‑1233)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                             Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to health care; requiring the Legislative Committee on Health Care to 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; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

   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:

 

 

 

2-1    Section 1.  The Legislative Committee on Health Care shall:

2-2    1.  Conduct a study of the diversion of patients in need of emergency

2-3  services and care from hospitals that lack sufficient resources to provide

2-4  the emergency services and care needed by those patients. The study must

2-5  include an examination of:

2-6    (a) The causes of those diversions; and

2-7    (b) The effect of those diversions on:

2-8       (1) The delivery of health care services to patients in this state; and

2-9       (2) The costs of health care incurred by patients and employers in this

2-10  state.

2-11  2.  Submit a report of its findings and any recommendations for

2-12  legislation to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for

2-13  transmission to the appropriate standing committees of the 72nd session of

2-14  the Nevada Legislature.

2-15  Sec. 2. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001, and expires by

2-16  limitation on June 30, 2003.

 

2-17  H