Existing law requires the Chief Medical Officer appointed by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain systems for the reporting of information on: (1) sickle cell disease and its variants; (2) lupus and its variants; and (3) cancer and other neoplasms. (NRS 439.4929, 439.4976, 457.230) Existing law requires the chief administrative officer of each health care facility in this State to make available to the Chief Medical Officer or his or her representative the records of the health care facility for each reportable incidence of sickle cell disease or a variant thereof, lupus or a variant thereof, or cancer or another neoplasm. (NRS 439.4933, 439.498, 457.250) Sections 2.5-8 of this bill define certain terms for the purposes of sections 2-17 of this bill. Section 9 of this bill authorizes the Department of Brain Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to establish and maintain a similar system for the reporting of information on Parkinson's disease, Parkinsonisms, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Section 9 requires the Department of Brain Health to provide the Chief Medical Officer and the Department of Health and Human Services with access to the data and reports provided to the Department of Brain Health for inclusion in the system. Section 10 of this bill requires the Department of Brain Health, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer, to prescribe: (1) the neurodegenerative diseases for which information may be reported; (2) the form and manner of making such a report; and (3) the protocol for allowing access to and preserving the confidentiality of the records of patients needed for research into neurodegenerative diseases. Section 11 of this bill prescribes a procedure by which a patient may opt in to the reporting of information relating to him or her. If the patient opts in to such reporting, section 11 authorizes a hospital, medical laboratory, other facility or provider of health care to report information concerning the patient to the system. Section 14.5 of this bill requires the Department of Brain Health to: (1) establish and maintain an Internet website for the system; or (2) enter into an agreement for the Chief Medical Officer to perform those duties. Section 14.5 authorizes the Department of Brain Health or the Chief Medical Officer to post an annual report concerning the activities of the system on that Internet website. Section 15 of this bill authorizes the Department of Brain Health to apply for and accept gifts, grants and donations to carry out the provisions of sections 2-17. Sections 10, 16 and 18 of this bill provide for the confidentiality of the reported information concerning patients, providers of health care and facilities. Section 17 of this bill provides immunity from liability for any person or organization who discloses information in good faith to the Department of Brain Health in accordance with the provisions of sections 10 and 11. Section 18.5 of this bill appropriates money to the Department of Brain Health to establish and maintain: (1) the system for the reporting of information on neurodegenerative diseases pursuant to section 9; and (2) the Internet website for the system pursuant to section 14.5.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 239.010
Reprint 1: 239.010
Reprint 2: 239.010
As Enrolled: 239.010
BDR: 239.010