Existing law requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and administer the State Plan for Medicaid, which must include specific medical services required to be provided to recipients of Medicaid. (NRS 422.063, 422.270) Existing law requires: (1) the Director of the Department to include in the State Plan a requirement that the State pay the nonfederal share of expenditures for certain medical services; and (2) the Department to apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for a waiver of certain provisions of federal law or an amendment of the State Plan to authorize the receipt of federal funding to provide certain medical services to recipients of Medicaid. (NRS 422.270-422.27495) Section 1 of this bill requires the Director to include in the State Plan a requirement that the State pay certain costs for creative arts therapy provided to Medicaid recipients. Section 1 also requires the Department to apply for a waiver of federal Medicaid requirements or request to amend the State Plan to receive federal funding to provide coverage of creative arts therapy. Finally, section 1 requires a person who wishes to provide creative arts therapy services to a recipient of Medicaid to enroll with the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy of the Department. Section 4 of this bill makes a conforming change by including the duties listed in section 1 among the duties the Director of the Department is required to fulfill. Existing law requires certain persons in their professional or occupational capacity to report the suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation or abandonment of older or vulnerable persons or the suspected abuse or neglect of a child. (NRS 200.5093, 432B.220) Under existing law, a person who is required to make such a report but knowingly and willfully fails to do so is guilty of: (1) a misdemeanor for a first violation of failing to make such a report concerning a child or a gross misdemeanor for each subsequent violation; or (2) a misdemeanor for failing to make such a report concerning an older or vulnerable person. (NRS 200.5093, 432B.240) Sections 2 and 3 of this bill expand these reporting requirements to an enrolled creative arts therapist. Existing law creates the Nevada Cultural Account in the State General Fund to provide resources and support for organizations, projects and activities relating to the arts and humanities in this State. (NRS 233C.095, 233C.096) Section 4.5 of this bill authorizes certain funds in the Account to be expended to support programs and projects to improve health outcomes through the arts and humanities.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 432B.220, 200.5093, 232.320
Reprint 1: 432B.220, 200.5093, 232.320, 233C.096
BDR: 432B.220, 200.5093, 232.320