Existing law requires a hospital to provide emergency services and care and to admit certain patients where appropriate, regardless of the financial status of the patient. (NRS 439B.410) Existing law prescribes a procedure for determining the amount that a third party insurer must pay for medically necessary emergency services rendered by an out-of-network provider to a person covered by the third party. (NRS 439B.748, 439B.751) Under existing law, if the third party and the out-of-network provider fail to agree on the amount to be paid, the parties are required to arbitrate the dispute. Existing law authorizes a qualified employee of the State to conduct an arbitration for a claim of less than $5,000. Existing law also requires the losing party of such an arbitration to pay the costs of the arbitrator. (NRS 439B.754) Except where specifically provided otherwise, existing law requires that any money which belongs to the State be credited to the State General Fund. (NRS 353.249) Section 1 of this bill authorizes a state agency whose employee serves as an arbitrator of a dispute between a third party and an out-of-network provider to retain the money paid for the costs of the arbitrator, instead of such money being credited to the State General Fund. Section 2 of this bill provides that the provisions of section 1 apply to any money collected by a state agency under such circumstances on or after July 1, 2022.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 439B.754
As Enrolled: 439B.754
BDR: 439B.754