Existing law creates the Fund for a Healthy Nevada and requires the State Treasurer to deposit into the Fund a portion of any proceeds that the State of Nevada receives from settlement agreements with and civil actions against manufacturers of tobacco products. (NRS 439.620) Existing law requires the Department of Health and Human Services to allocate money in the Fund for certain purposes, including, without limitation and subject to legislative authorization, for direct expenditure by the Department to pay for prescription drugs, pharmaceutical services and other benefits for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Existing law also authorizes the Department to use such allocated money to subsidize these costs for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. (NRS 439.630) Existing law establishes the procedure for allocating and revoking such subsidies. (NRS 439.635-439.690) Existing law requires the Department to submit a quarterly report to the Governor and certain other entities regarding the general manner in which these expenditures have been made. (NRS 439.630) Section 3 of this bill removes: (1) the requirement that such money must be directly expended by the Department; and (2) the limitation that such money must be used only to pay for benefits for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Section 3 instead authorizes the Department to allocate money to provide grants and enter into contracts or intergovernmental agreements to pay for or subsidize the cost of prescription drugs, pharmaceutical services and other benefits for natural persons who: (1) are residents of Nevada; and (2) meet other criteria for eligibility established by regulation of the Department. Section 3 also requires the Department to submit the report concerning such expenditures annually rather than quarterly. Section 4 of this bill repeals the existing provisions governing the direct subsidization of prescription drugs, pharmaceutical services and other benefits for senior citizens and persons with disabilities by the Department. Sections 1 and 2 of this bill make conforming changes to remove references to the repealed provisions.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 439.529, 439.620, 439.630
As Enrolled: 439.529, 439.620, 439.630
BDR: 439.529, 439.620, 439.630