Senate Bill No. 289–Senator Neal

 

March 14, 2003

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Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

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)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: Yes.

 

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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; directing the Legislative 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; 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. 1.  The Legislative Committee on Health Care

1-2  shall conduct an interim study of the current challenges of ensuring

1-3  that adequate health care is available to all of the residents of

1-4  Nevada, now and in the future. The study must include a search for

1-5  innovative ways to expand the availability of health care in Nevada,

1-6  including a determination of the feasibility of a single-payer health

1-7  care system, the expansion of coverage for persons who are

1-8  employed but are not able to find affordable health insurance and

1-9  the expansion of the Medicaid program.

1-10      2.  The Legislative Committee on Health Care shall appoint:

1-11      (a) A subcommittee for the study, consisting of members of the

1-12  Legislative Committee on Health Care, Legislators other than

1-13  members of the Legislative Committee on Health Care, or any

1-14  combination thereof; and

2-1  (b) A chairman of the subcommittee from among the members

2-2  of the subcommittee.

2-3  3.  The study must include, without limitation:

2-4  (a) An examination of the unique characteristics of the health

2-5  care market in the State of Nevada that may contribute to the

2-6  increasing costs of health insurance and health care services in this

2-7  state;

2-8  (b) An examination of the future health care needs of the

2-9  residents of Nevada, including the need for providers of health care,

2-10  medical facilities, medical equipment and other medical services;

2-11  and

2-12      (c) A search for ways to expand health care coverage for all

2-13  residents of Nevada, including:

2-14          (1) The feasibility of establishing a State Health Authority to

2-15  coordinate a single-payer system in the State of Nevada, including a

2-16  review of the different forms of single-payer systems implemented

2-17  or contemplated by other states, such as employer mandates, “play

2-18  or pay,” tax incentives and state purchasing plans;

2-19          (2) An examination of the number and distribution of

2-20  uninsured residents of this state, including a review of the

2-21  demographics of persons who are employed but are not able to find

2-22  affordable health insurance, and a determination of the feasibility of

2-23  expanding employment-based health insurance in Nevada;

2-24          (3) An examination of changes that have occurred in the

2-25  affordability of health insurance policies for persons residing in

2-26  Nevada, including a review of the increases in cost-sharing among

2-27  health insurance plans; and

2-28          (4) An examination of the feasibility of expanding state-

2-29  sponsored health insurance, including an expansion of Medicaid

2-30  eligibility for those who fall just outside of the requirements for

2-31  eligibility and the option of expanding Medicaid to cover all

2-32  optional services.

2-33      4.  The Legislative Committee on Health Care shall submit a

2-34  report of the results of the study and any recommendations for

2-35  legislation to the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.

2-36      Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

2-37  H