Nevada § 439B.220 - Powers

§ 439B.220. Powers

The Committee may: 1. Review and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of programs for the prevention

of illness. 2. Review and compare the costs of medical care among communities in Nevada with similar

communities in other states. 3. Analyze the overall system of medical care in the State to determine ways to coordinate

the providing of services to all members of society, avoid the duplication of services

and achieve the most efficient use of all available resources. 4. Examine the business of providing insurance, including the development of cooperation

with health maintenance organizations and organizations which restrict the performance

of medical services to certain physicians and hospitals, and procedures to contain

the costs of these services. 5. Examine hospitals to: (a) Increase cooperation among hospitals; (b) Increase the use of regional medical centers; and (c) Encourage hospitals to use medical procedures which do not require the patient

to be admitted to the hospital and to use the resulting extra space in alternative

ways. 6. Examine medical malpractice. 7. Examine the system of education to coordinate: (a) Programs in health education, including those for the prevention of illness and

those which teach the best use of available medical services; and (b) The education of those who provide medical care. 8. Review competitive mechanisms to aid in the reduction of the costs of medical care. 9. Examine the problem of providing and paying for medical care for indigent and medically

indigent persons, including medical care provided by physicians. 10. Examine the effectiveness of any legislation enacted to accomplish the purpose

of restraining the costs of health care while ensuring the quality of services, and

its effect on the subjects listed in subsections 1 to 9, inclusive. 11. Determine whether regulation by the State will be necessary in the future by examining

hospitals for evidence of: (a) Degradation or discontinuation of services previously offered, including without

limitation, neonatal care, pulmonary services and pathology services; or (b) A change in the policy of the hospital concerning contracts, as a result of any legislation enacted to accomplish the purpose of restraining the

costs of health care while ensuring the quality of services. 12. Study the effect of the acuity of the care provided by a hospital upon the revenues

of the hospital and upon limitations upon that revenue. 13. Review the actions of the Director in administering the provisions of NRS 439B.160 to 439B.500 , inclusive, and adopting regulations pursuant to those provisions. The Director shall report to the Committee concerning any regulations proposed or

adopted pursuant to NRS 439B.160 to 439B.500 , inclusive. 14. Identify and evaluate, with the assistance of an advisory group, the alternatives

to institutionalization for providing long-term care, including, without limitation: (a) An analysis of the costs of the alternatives to institutionalization and the costs

of institutionalization for persons receiving long-term care in this State; (b) A determination of the effects of the various methods of providing long-term care

services on the quality of life of persons receiving those services in this State; (c) A determination of the personnel required for each method of providing long-term

care services in this State; and (d) A determination of the methods for funding the long-term care services provided

to all persons who are receiving or who are eligible to receive those services in

this State. 15. Evaluate, with the assistance of an advisory group, the feasibility of obtaining

a waiver from the Federal Government to integrate and coordinate acute care services

provided through Medicare and long-term care services provided through Medicaid in

this State. 16. Evaluate, with the assistance of an advisory group, the feasibility of obtaining

a waiver from the Federal Government to eliminate the requirement that elderly persons

in this State impoverish themselves as a condition of receiving assistance for long-term

care. 17. If a data dashboard is established pursuant to NRS 439.245 , use the data dashboard to review access by different groups and populations in this

State to services provided through telehealth, as defined in NRS 629.515 , and evaluate policies to make such access more equitable. 18. Conduct investigations and hold hearings in connection with its review and analysis

and exercise any of the investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140 , inclusive. 19. Apply for any available grants and accept any gifts, grants or donations to aid

the Committee in carrying out its duties pursuant to NRS 439B.160 to 439B.500 , inclusive. 20. Direct the Legislative Counsel Bureau to assist in its research, investigations,

review and analysis. 21. Recommend to the Legislature as a result of its review any appropriate legislation.