Existing federal law establishes the Medicare program, which is a public health insurance program for persons 65 years of age and older and specified persons with disabilities who are under 65 years of age. (42 U.S.C. §§ 1395 et seq.) Existing federal law establishes a rural emergency hospital as a Medicare provider type and defines the term “rural emergency hospital” to mean, in general, a facility: (1) in a rural area with less than 50 beds; (2) with an emergency department that is staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week; (3) that generally does not provide acute care inpatient services; and (4) has a transfer agreement with a level I or level II trauma center. (42 U.S.C. § 1395x(kkk)) Section 1 of this bill defines the term “rural emergency hospital” to be consistent with federal law. Section 2 of this bill makes a conforming change to indicate the proper placement of section 1 in the Nevada Revised Statutes. Section 3 of this bill establishes a rural emergency hospital as a unique type of medical facility licensed and regulated by the State Board of Health and the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services. Section 4 of this bill requires the Board to adopt regulations for the licensure of rural emergency hospitals, which take into consideration the unique problems of operating such a facility in a rural area. Existing law authorizes the Division to issue an endorsement as a crisis stabilization center to certain medical facilities that provide behavioral health services designed to de-escalate or stabilize a behavioral crisis. (NRS 449.0915) Section 5 of this bill authorizes the Division to issue such an endorsement to a rural emergency hospital if the rural emergency hospital meets certain requirements. Existing law requires the Director of the Department to develop and adopt a State Plan for Medicaid which includes, without limitation, a list of specific medical services required to be provided to Medicaid recipients. (NRS 422.063, 422.270-422.27495) Existing law authorizes the Director, under certain circumstances, to seek a waiver of certain provisions of federal law governing Medicaid to enable the State to receive federal funding for certain Medicaid coverage. (NRS 422.270-422.27495) Section 7 of this bill authorizes the Department to apply to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services for such a waiver or an amendment to the State Plan for Medicaid that authorizes the Department to receive federal funding to increase rates of reimbursement under the State Plan for rural emergency hospital services provided by a rural emergency hospital. Section 6 of this bill makes a conforming change to indicate that the provisions of section 7 will be administered in the same manner as the provisions of existing law governing the State Plan.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 449.001, 449.0151, 449.0302, 449.0915, 232.320
Reprint 1: 449.001, 449.0151, 449.0302, 449.0915, 232.320
As Enrolled: 449.001, 449.0151, 449.0302, 449.0915, 232.320
BDR: 449.001, 449.0151, 449.0302, 449.0915, 232.320