Senate Bill 556

Senate Bill 556

Task Force
on the Policy
of the State of Nevada
Concerning Access to Public Health Services

Task Analysis of the Bill

Appoint a technical advisory committee that consists of persons who have experience with public health issues

Must include persons who are employed by the UNSoM and the dental school and who are recommended by the Board of Regents

May include other persons who have experience with public health issues

Purpose: To assist the task force concerning technical issues

Establish the basic coverage that must be included in each policy of health insurance and health plan that is issued in the State of Nevada

To determine the basic coverage, the task force shall consider public policy and actuarial evidence, including the cost of providing the coverage

Purpose: The basic coverage must be established as the minimum coverage to be offered which may be augmented based upon the needs of insureds or employees and on economic considerations

Identify, review and prioritize the basic health care services, including public health assessments and screenings, to which all residents of the State of Nevada should have access, regardless of whether they have health insurance

Identify the costs and benefits of providing each of these basic health care services

Include consideration of at-risk persons – Context: the clinical consensus on the positive value of each preventative, screening and primary health care service to this population

Review must include methods to increase access to health care services for members of minority groups and other persons who are medically underserved

Identify and analyze current public and private resources that provide health care services and coverage to persons without health insurance (including Medicaid, Nevada Check Up, county indigent health programs, care provided by hospitals or charities, federally-qualified health centers, clinics of county health departments and community health nurses)

The analysis must include a compilation of data concerning:

Persons who do not have health insurance

Cost of providing health care services to persons in this state

Persons who receive services from public and private resources identified by the task force

Public health care needs of minority groups and other medically underserved persons and the services available to these groups and persons

Demographics of persons who are covered by public or private health insurance

Demographics of persons who are not covered by health insurance

Shall sponsor forums throughout Nevada, if money provided by the Nevada Public Health Foundation

Purpose: To provide information to the public concerning the work of the task force and to obtain public comment on the work of the task force

The forums must include participation by providers of public health care, health care advocacy groups and health care professionals

Shall hold not less than eight meetings

On or before December 1, 2000 submit written recommendations to the Governor and to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the 71^st session of the Legislature:

The structure of, contents of and services that must be included in a basic plan of health coverage offered to Nevadans

The establishment of minimum public health services that must be provided to each resident regardless of ability to pay, including preventative care, health screenings, primary care services and immunizations

Potential plans and programs to improve the quality of health care services provided to members of minority groups and other persons who are medically underserved

Purpose: To increase access to health care services for members of minority groups and other persons who are medically underserved

Methods to provide funding to public health clinics to enable them to provide health care services to Nevadans

Estimate of the costs and benefits of coordinating insurance coverage provided by the private sector with public health care services

Note: In carrying out the duties herein, the task force may contract for consulting services and other technical assistance.