Amendment No. 696

 

Senate Amendment to Senate Bill No. 289  First Reprint                                                      (BDR S‑720)

Proposed by: Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations

Amendment Box:

Resolves Conflicts with: N/A

Amends:         Summary:              Title:              Preamble:               Joint Sponsorship:

 

ASSEMBLY ACTION              Initial and Date              |SENATE ACTION                        Initial and Date

       Adopted       Lost                                               |          Adopted       Lost                                           

Concurred In                     Not                                                        |Concurred In  Not                                 

       Receded        Not                                               |         Receded        Not                                           

 

     Amend section 1, pages 1 and 2, by deleting lines 1 through 13 on page 1 and lines 1 through 19 on page 2, and inserting:

     “Section 1. 1.  The Legislative Committee on Health Care shall conduct an interim study of the current challenges of ensuring that adequate health care is available to all of the residents of Nevada, now and in the future. The study must include a search for innovative ways to expand the availability of health care in Nevada, including a determination of the feasibility of a single-payer health care system, the expansion of coverage for persons who are employed but are not able to find affordable health insurance and the expansion of the Medicaid program.

     2.  The Legislative Committee on Health Care shall appoint:

     (a) A subcommittee for the study, consisting of members of the Legislative Committee on Health Care, Legislators other than members of the Legislative Committee on Health Care, or any combination thereof; and

     (b) A chairman of the subcommittee from among the members of the subcommittee.

     3.  The study must include, without limitation:

     (a) An examination of the unique characteristics of the health care market in the State of Nevada that may contribute to the increasing costs of health insurance and health care services in this state;

     (b) An examination of the future health care needs of the residents of Nevada, including the need for providers of health care, medical facilities, medical equipment and other medical services; and

     (c) A search for ways to expand health care coverage for all residents of Nevada, including:

          (1) The feasibility of establishing a State Health Authority to coordinate a single-payer system in the State of Nevada, including a review of the different forms of single-payer systems implemented or contemplated by other states, such as employer mandates, “play or pay,” tax incentives and state purchasing plans;

          (2) An examination of the number and distribution of uninsured residents of this state, including a review of the demographics of persons who are employed but are not able to find affordable health insurance, and a determination of the feasibility of expanding employment-based health insurance in Nevada;

          (3) An examination of changes that have occurred in the affordability of health insurance policies for persons residing in Nevada, including a review of the increases in cost-sharing among health insurance plans; and

          (4) An examination of the feasibility of expanding state-sponsored health insurance, including an expansion of Medicaid eligibility for those who fall just outside of the requirements for eligibility and the option of expanding Medicaid to cover all optional services.

     4.  The Legislative Committee on Health Care shall submit a report of the results of the study and any recommendations for legislation to the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.”.

     Amend the title of the bill by deleting the second through fifth lines and inserting:

“Committee on Health Care to study the current challenges of ensuring that adequate health care is available to all of the residents of Nevada, now and in the future;”.

     Amend the summary of the bill to read as follows:

“SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Committee on Health Care to study current challenges of ensuring that adequate health care is available to all residents of Nevada, now and in future. (BDR S‑720)”.