Existing law requires the State Board of Pharmacy to adopt regulations governing the manipulation of a person for the collection of specimens by a pharmacist that: (1) require the pharmacist to use only a fingerstick or oral or nasal swab to collect the specimens; and (2) set forth the procedures and requirements the pharmacist is required to follow when manipulating a person for the collection of a specimen. (NRS 639.0747) Section 2 of this bill removes the requirement a pharmacist only use a fingerstick or oral or nasal swab to collect a specimen, thereby authorizing a pharmacist to collect a specimen using any method available for the collection of the specimen. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to: (1) perform a home blood glucose test; and (2) order and perform laboratory tests that are necessary for therapy that uses a drug approved by the United State Food and Drug Administration for preventing the acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus. (NRS 639.2808, 639.28085) Section 3 of this bill additionally authorizes a pharmacist to: (1) order laboratory tests that are necessary for any drug therapy or that otherwise facilitate the care of a patient within the authorized scope of practice of the pharmacist; and (2) perform certain other laboratory tests determined by the Federal Government to be simple laboratory examinations and procedures that have an insignificant risk of an erroneous result. Section 1 of this bill provides that ordering and performing such laboratory tests constitutes the practice of pharmacy. Section 4 of this bill removes a duplicative provision from existing law. Existing law requires the State Board of Health to adopt regulations for the certification and licensure of laboratory directors. (NRS 652.125) Existing regulations define an exempt laboratory to be a laboratory that: (1) conducts only certain microscopy tests and tests determined by the Federal Government to be simple laboratory examinations and procedures that have an insignificant risk of an erroneous result; and (2) does not perform only tests for human immunodeficiency virus. (NAC 652.072) Section 5 of this bill requires regulations of the Board to authorize a pharmacist to serve as the director of an exempt laboratory. Existing law requires public and private policies of insurance regulated under Nevada law to include certain coverage. (NRS 287.010, 287.04335, 422.2717-422.27241, 689A.04033-689A.0465, 689B.0303-689B.0379, 689C.1655-689C.169, 689C.194-689C.195, 695A.184-695A.1875, 695B.1901-695B.1948, 695C.1691-695C.176, 695G.162-695G.177) Existing law requires employers to provide certain benefits to employees, including the coverage required of health insurers, if the employer provides health benefits for its employees. (NRS 608.1555) Sections 7-9, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28 and 31 of this bill require public and private health plans, including Medicaid and health plans for state and local government employees, to: (1) provide coverage for services provided by a pharmacist within his or her scope of practice if such services are covered when performed by another provider of health care; and (2) reimburse such services at a rate equal to or greater than that provided to a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse for similar services. Sections 7-9, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28 and 31 prohibit such a health plan requiring prior authorization for such services performed by a pharmacist if prior authorization is not required when the service is performed by another provider of health care. Sections 10, 16, 19, 21, 24, 26, 29 and 32 of this bill remove duplicative provisions from existing law. Sections 6 and 17 of this bill make conforming changes to indicate the proper placement of sections 9 and 15 in the Nevada Revised Statutes. Section 30 of this bill authorizes the Commissioner of Insurance to suspend or revoke the certificate of a health maintenance organization that fails to comply with the requirements of section 27. The Commissioner would also be authorized to take such action against other health insurers who fail to comply with the requirements of sections 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25 and 31. (NRS 680A.200) Existing law requires a carrier that offers coverage in the small employer group or individual market to, before making any network plan available for sale in this State, demonstrate the capacity to deliver services adequately by applying to the Commissioner for the issuance of a network plan. (NRS 687B.490) Sections 7, 8 and 11 of this bill require a health carrier offering coverage in any market, including health plans for state and local government employees, to: (1) demonstrate the capacity to adequately deliver the services of pharmacists to covered persons; (2) accept the credentialing of a pharmacist who is employed by a health care facility to which the health carrier has delegated the authority to enter into credentialing agreements; and (3) negotiate in good faith with such a health care facility to include such pharmacists in the network plan of the health carrier. Sections 13 and 14 of this bill make conforming changes to indicate the proper placement of section 11 in the Nevada Revised Statutes.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 639.0124, 639.0747, 639.2808, 639.28085, 652.125, 232.320, 287.010, 287.04335, 422.27235, 687B.225, 687B.600, 687B.670, 689A.0437, 689A.330, 689B.0312, 689C.1671, 689C.425, 695A.1843, 695B.1924, 695C.050, 695C.1743, 695C.330, 695G.1705
Reprint 1: 639.0124, 639.0747, 639.2808, 639.28085, 652.125, 232.320, 287.010, 287.04335, 422.27235, 687B.225, 687B.600, 687B.670, 689A.0437, 689A.330, 689B.0312, 689C.1671, 689C.425, 695A.1843, 695B.1924, 695C.050, 695C.1743, 695C.330, 695G.1705
BDR: 639.0124, 639.0747, 639.2808, 639.28085, 652.125, 232.320, 287.010, 287.04335, 422.27235, 687B.225, 687B.600, 687B.670, 689A.0437, 689A.330, 689B.0312, 689C.1671, 689C.425, 695A.1843, 695B.1924, 695C.050, 695C.1743, 695C.330, 695G.1705