[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6556027,"mediaKeyId","3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e","parentId",3332794,"title","Committee holds AB448 after late amendments on vision-insurance rules; work session set for next day","audioSeconds",1421,"startMs",3987420,"endMs",5409390,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e&start=3987&end=5409","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e/thumbnail_3987420.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6556027/Nevada/Committee-holds-AB448-after-late-amendments-on-vision-insurance-rules-work-session-set-for-next-day","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556027-682f90fc4379e0e8de515392ec624545/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501402&Signature=F-P~Epa8l1-Crj1PLeYWpfwWgzVmVgzJTEWRocuUS5F6FNjMfubiQ7~PygjjJeloadFUQ2NLjdMVDwTuUz9azKrMaHfm8g~hCIP0LUkD~L4P~Y3ECo5MlvHHk~Ps-BMib4grfbvj7dfvfBuPxEuKtLLgTq~ruSMqKwnArp-WSp4e5P3lUCZmntSAAp0XH8hlrVTAlwhW5RkTsjg1VFM9aFGAhGztr52D8NEd9Thg0nCir2kbATQbpeoyMg8Wae5o7f9HguTEmmXU~3jUWUuJfow-Tq2ASAHZCkwbn2rDX8HsHFPrjJSEb4AOwMS6uxVAP34FjuXj88rD2j2Fnw87Cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada State Legislature","date","2025-05-16T00:27:25.67Z","article","Assemblyman Greg Koenig presented AB448 to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on May 13, saying the measure had been pared back substantially after negotiations with stakeholders. Koenig described the final proposal as focusing on three core issues relating to provider contracts, plan conduct and transparency.

Rick McCann of the American Optometric Association summarized the remaining provisions, describing the bill as an unfair‑trade‑practices measure that would, among other things, prohibit vision plans from controlling the professional judgment of an optometrist or seeking recoupment from a provider when the plan’s enrollment data was in error. McCann said the legislation would also require plans to provide a copy of their manuals or policies to participating providers and would make unlawful any contract provisions that violate state law.

Supporters appearing in person included organized labor and practicing optometrists; Dr. Kenneth Kopolow, an optometrist who practices in Las Vegas, urged committee members to consider whether vision plans have contributed to rising eyewear prices. Representatives of vision insurers and vision‑benefit managers testified neutral or opposed; the National Association of Vision Care Plans registered a soft oppose pending review of the late amendment language. VSP Vision Care and the Nevada Association of Health Plans both said they were neutral while reviewing the mock‑up and proposed amendment.

Adam Plain of the Nevada Division of Insurance raised several technical drafting points, noting that some mock‑up language touched on statutory chapters ordinarily outside the division’s usual purview and that the bill’s draft included a definition for “vision benefit discount plan,” which historically is not regulated as insurance.

Committee members and stakeholders reported a late-stage compromise amendment that would delete several contested sections of the mock-up and instead place an applicability requirement into the contracts section so that existing and future provider contracts must conform to the bill’s provisions upon passage. Because that revised language was circulated late, the committee recessed briefly and then agreed to schedule a work session the following day so members and stakeholders could review the text.

Action: The committee declined to take final action on AB448 during the May 13 hearing. Members agreed to a conceptual, committee-supported amendment (to be uploaded) and scheduled a work session for the next day to review the formal amendment text and allow stakeholders time to respond.

Ending: With stakeholders and insurers reviewing the late amendment, the committee deferred final action to permit additional deliberation and formal amendment drafting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5/15/2025 - Senate Committee on Health and Human Services","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate committee recessed action on AB448— a vision‑insurance and provider‑contract bill— after stakeholders and sponsors agreed to circulate late amendment language and requested more time for review.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NV, Nevada","taxId",78440,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6556032,"Committee advances AB380 to expand flexible staffing, Medicaid reimbursement for mobile crisis teams",338,2801464,3140235,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e&start=2801&end=3140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e/thumbnail_2801464.jpg","/articles/6556032/Nevada/Committee-advances-AB380-to-expand-flexible-staffing-Medicaid-reimbursement-for-mobile-crisis-teams","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556032-4317cbea945fc89878573c4bd8bf9d10/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501402&Signature=Pu5E9vb9dcsazUR4c3NCy8IIRCv1z1D68313fHheGla0Eq6BoCyZOInHmTNgzvXxTN3FmzCTd1eUg4jQlOjsVmZrrHYgj6ZEMhuCQpbiKNx1LUI1DtF8qChVWurHXINTt3GNXPVl~QsotNAb85aO1DYmtxtYqKVGwy46~cZukQp6xXG9ZUbph6tryStXKlTudOEgZB7v98mNwO~JQuZpDhtXWgyXlFfHCQrEzSB6ysVw2OegMXmVRlZNeSVCz8cO50S1aXErOsodAHKwXgJ-YECjXPjPXdFkQH6h6s93Zk30Dv43YVSLqRfVvbc85v1qjmUYZk49JYNW8H6PJwUlZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblywoman Rebecca Edgeworth told the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services that AB380 aims to improve Nevada’s crisis-response system by allowing flexible staffing configurations for mobile crisis teams. The sponsor said the change will align 988 crisis responses with existing 911-based local models and support Medicaid reimbursement so smaller jurisdictions can establish teams.

Art Perillo, assistant fire chief for the City of Las Vegas, told the committee the bill “is a pivotal step forward” for Nevada’s mental and behavioral health crisis response. Perillo said the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue crisis-response team answered more than 3,400 incidents in the prior year and that flexible models—pairing behavioral-health clinicians, peer supporters, medical staff or law enforcement as needed—allow jurisdictions to tailor teams to local conditions.

Supporters that testified included the Nevada Association of Counties and Washoe County, the Children’s Advocacy Alliance, Clark County, the Vegas Chamber, professional firefighter representatives, REMSA, and the City of Henderson’s Mobile Crisis Intervention Team. Henderson’s Lisa Kelso, a licensed mental-health clinician, said Henderson’s MOST team uses evidence-based practices to reduce emergency-room use and criminal-justice involvement and that “best practice for a response to people in crisis is a medical response.”

T-Mobile offered neutral testimony confirming the measure would not increase the existing 911 surcharge. Several jurisdictions and nonprofit advocates said Medicaid reimbursement for eligible crisis-team responses is essential to scale services statewide so smaller cities and rural areas can create teams.

Action: The committee voted to do pass AB380 with amendments; Vice Chair Taylor was recorded as the mover in the committee work session and the committee assigned the floor statement to Sen. Stone.

Ending: Sponsors and local providers said the bill emphasizes community-specific staffing and payment flexibility to expand mobile crisis capacity across Nevada.","AB380 would let jurisdictions use flexible staffing models for mobile crisis response tied to 988/911 calls and enable Medicaid reimbursement. Sponsors argued the approach increases capacity in rural and urban areas; multiple local fire, county and advocacy groups supported the bill.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6556037,"Committee backs biometric verification for Medicaid providers; notarization allowed as fallback",262,2270355,2532575,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e&start=2270&end=2532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e/thumbnail_2270355.jpg","/articles/6556037/Nevada/Committee-backs-biometric-verification-for-Medicaid-providers-notarization-allowed-as-fallback","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556037-77c7722a033f170d2dc5e09c846d9bab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501402&Signature=IdngQ4pq9FoFh2YloCYC7Iu6dN~b8j0PxcCYx~X3zo8T3EdFisldeMWxTbDidsOCBKExzRhZECMgpmarujyeqrxZ0PqlEnPQME4F5ls2IVhXa21aKbrCPemr28rcMks0yrPiltLQgYthZi0kldYSk-15sB0tLG2e3oQ3dHt7OSWzcSqKGHaRkN~HfyIW9KBY8C8ImqLOhZ9COd1sqbSsn5aUPNmBv68ytmJMb74xTqW-ojtUKm~chVHZi60w3mUOTpUPOIk9-CCULz9J39zXpLra5dg5rIGCBggbGW9N7J-nW2jiGYqog~W5muYX3Gqdu~B~iHKNrhj5Q2xub9Noow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblywoman Rebecca Edgeworth told the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on May 13 that Assembly Bill 315 seeks to reduce provider-side Medicaid fraud by requiring stronger identity verification for providers. Edgeworth said the measure would make it harder for bad actors to enroll and bill Medicaid under false identities.

Stacy Weeks, representing Nevada Medicaid, described an ongoing modernization of provider enrollment that will include biometric verification. Weeks told the committee the biometric process—designed to capture proof of identity online—should be available by the end of the summer; providers who do not use the online biometric tool can still submit paper applications and complete notarization. Weeks said the online system is intended to be faster and to reduce the administrative burden over time.

Edgeworth said the bill was developed in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Medicaid fraud investigators and that notarization was retained as an alternative to ensure investigators could pursue cases where biometric access was not available. Teresa Benitez Thompson, chief of staff to Attorney General Ford, testified in neutral and described the AG’s office role in housing the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit under federal statute.

Committee members asked about implementation timing and administrative burden; Weeks answered that the online biometric option should be operational by late summer, and that notarization is already available.

Action: The committee voted to amend and do pass AB315; the transcript shows the sponsor added Vice Chair Taylor as a cosponsor during the work session. The bill’s effective date as stated in the transcript is July 1, 2025.

Ending: Supporters described the change as a targeted step to protect Medicaid dollars by reducing enrollment fraud; details on enrollment fees and vendor timelines were discussed but no fiscal estimates for the committee action were included in the transcript.","AB315, sponsored by Assemblywoman Rebecca Edgeworth, would require identity verification for Medicaid providers to curb provider-side fraud. Nevada Medicaid testified biometric enrollment will be available online by the end of summer; notarization remains an alternative.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6556040,"Committee approves hospice ‘bill of rights’ language after testimony about for-profit hospice concerns",857,1159920,2017544,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e&start=1159&end=2017","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e/thumbnail_1159920.jpg","/articles/6556040/Nevada/Committee-approves-hospice-bill-of-rights-language-after-testimony-about-for-profit-hospice-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556040-34ed611e04c27e1364d03dd6e791972e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501402&Signature=OwoIAUZ~9XwLAa2Hiox08y2VFzmt~0iLoxFH009BdV08-oRZO99s1z1xaJyu1S3oE5-5NezQupaAObclKgBNvQrFX7S8~L2n823jZAsVpW~fcmuuEQZD2MECBHLrw0u3~~CP5s0~KXhQ0gUmCfGvoSFfCtxgzQZuhRzZOuS7abkEIQcCawu2TTwL4SiMWVxMoIQdEZWGBwju20GeJ5gGRifBTif04PqSls97Jon4HAw0mg-gba6wUirG7ZWcHsib3Q7nni33LQGKC7meIzvmUc4QZXFPqmsHshdjFmHJJnaHcVaX3wbKNoEh71TtHMttS~XBdASzCz9J2xV1JDD53w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblywoman Rebecca Edgeworth, sponsor of Assembly Bill 161, told the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on May 13 that the bill responds to “the appalling state of hospices in Nevada,” citing a rapid increase in licensed hospice providers and reports of inadequate care.

Assemblywoman Edgeworth, a physician representing District 35, said the shift from mostly nonprofit hospices toward a proliferation of for-profit companies in recent years has created what she described as “fraud and abuse” and lowered standards of care for dying patients. She told the committee that some operators have exploited reporting thresholds by keeping client counts under reporting triggers and that families sometimes learn only belatedly that their loved ones are enrolled in hospice.

Dan Musgrove, a consultant for Nathan Adelson Hospice, described the sponsor’s narrowed bill as focused on a patient and family “bill of rights.” Musgrove said the measure requires written informed consent that spells out the types of hospice services patients should expect, contact hours and phone numbers, and advance notice if a hospice will cease providing care. Musgrove told the committee the bill would require providers to maintain a record that information was provided so regulators can review compliance.

Testimony in support included representatives from the ACLU of Nevada, the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, faith leaders and hospice providers. Catherine Nielsen of the Governor’s Council said the bill would “help ensure that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their guardians are included in decisions.” Kim Anderson Mackay, an administrator for Amore Hospice Care, said her organization supported the bill “100% as written.”

Committee discussion acknowledged that the bill had been pared back from a larger package that would have added additional inspections and regulatory authority; the sponsor and proponents said those inspection and enforcement provisions were deferred because they would have carried a fiscal note. Edgeworth said she intends to pursue further measures in later sessions if needed.

Action: The committee voted to amend and do pass AB161 and added Vice Chair Taylor as a cosponsor. The transcript does not show a detailed roll-call tally for the final vote; the committee assigned the floor statement to Sen. Taylor.

Ending: Supporters said the bill is a first step toward addressing complaints about for-profit hospice operations and improving transparency and consent for patients and families.","The Senate committee advanced Assembly Bill 161 after testimony about an influx of for-profit hospices and reports of inadequate care; the sponsor narrowed the bill to require written informed consent and notices to hospice patients and families.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6556044,"Senate Health and Human Services committee advances a package of bills; several measures pass with recorded dissents",6201,158340,6359365,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e&start=158&end=6359","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3332794-95c3a31a86a9402beebbd0c6d78f640e/thumbnail_158340.jpg","/articles/6556044/Nevada/Senate-Health-and-Human-Services-committee-advances-a-package-of-bills-several-measures-pass-with-recorded-dissents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6556044-817295a250481812a014545e05873dae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501402&Signature=deFRvisj9HAw6ArClW1k~pcANunOeaCxs3-Hw2Lwh229JxKabGASjm1IF~SzkbNj3iyoFZirz2fRGoond1UYMFxl6vrLgbZ82Q2Vf6tn9cJBDyCYLDA5MUAXgEzCgnnYUOWzCfxycIlJIGMWA0HL7on~vPOATmFp0al8iV0GCNJb5Fe4P9SpcBEAZx7T91xyNxqzCi1vgfUCaKF1PN2DhGjTf7OXkMcJjH4eGZI534eI6H6P55psRh9WPi546yWISPVSz5CHyuGWV0Ic-hDZekD21e48jKvfevMTumVDt51i4-HSLILxjSvnnBbgn0wrQoMtItJdXRfZovrYv-0QyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nevada Senate Committee on Health and Human Services advanced a slate of bills during a May 13 session that combined a work session and several bill hearings. Committee members voted to advance multiple measures on topics ranging from Medicaid rules and reproductive health to hospital price transparency and hospice protections.

The work session moved quickly through numerous Assembly bills that had been heard earlier. Several measures were passed as presented; a few drew recorded dissent. Committee chair Sen. Donati opened the session by noting the agenda order could change and that members would first consider a set of work-session items before opening bill hearings.

Notable outcomes from the work session and votes at the hearing:
- AB19 (statewide substance use response working group): Motion to do pass; the transcript records a single nay by Sen. Titus; motion carried.
- AB36 (Medicaid hearing timeline for providers): Motion to do pass; no recorded opposition in the transcript; motion carried.
- AB42 (regulatory notice for public-assistance programs): Motion to do pass; no recorded opposition in the transcript; motion carried.
- AB107 (foster care background checks and certain marijuana convictions): Motion to do pass; transcript records one opposition by Sen. Titus; motion carried.
- AB176 (reproductive health care protections, amended to focus on contraception and family planning services): Motion to amend and do pass; no recorded opposition; motion carried.
- AB266 (breastfeeding resources and nondiscrimination for public accommodations): Motion to do pass; transcript records one nay by Sen. Titus; motion carried.
- AB343 (hospital price transparency and limits on medical-debt collection): Motion to amend and do pass; transcript records two nays from Sen. Stone and Sen. Titus; motion carried.
- AB360 (syphilis testing requirements in pregnancy): Motion to do pass; no recorded opposition in the transcript; motion carried.
- AB368 (electronic communication devices for patients/residents in certain facilities): Motion to amend and do pass; no recorded opposition in the transcript; motion carried.
- AB484 (health-care provider data collection): Motion to do pass; no recorded opposition in the transcript; motion carried.
- AB519 (licensure and regulation of personal care agencies and related Medicaid personal care attendant rules): Motion to do pass; no recorded opposition in the transcript; motion carried.

Later in the session the committee completed hearings and then took formal action on three bills that had fuller public record and testimony (see separate articles): AB161 (hospice protections) — amend and do pass; AB315 (Medicaid provider identity verification) — amend and do pass; AB380 (mobile crisis teams / 988 response) — amend and do pass. AB448 (vision insurance / vision benefit plans) was discussed at length; the committee recessed to allow additional amendment language to circulate and scheduled a work session on that bill for the next day.

Discussion vs. decisions: The transcript shows a mix of brief staff summaries and full public testimony. For the bills advanced in the quick work-session portion, committee members generally asked few questions and accepted staff recommendations to move bills forward. For the four major hearings that followed, the record contains extended sponsor remarks, stakeholder testimony for and against, and questions from committee members — and the committee scheduled additional time to consider AB448 to allow stakeholders to review late amendments.

The committee assigned floor statements and sponsors for votes (the transcript identifies which senator will carry floor statements for many advanced bills). The session included a ceremonial proclamation honoring Cody Finney of the Division of Behavioral Health for retirement prior to the substantive hearings.

Ending: The committee adjourned after scheduling a work session for AB448 the next day and confirming the amended recommendations to advance AB161, AB315 and AB380 to the floor with committee amendments.","The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services held a lengthy session May 13 that combined a work session advancing numerous bills with separate hearings on four substantive measures. The committee voted to advance most measures; several recorded no votes were noted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee holds AB448 after late amendments on vision-insurance rules; work session set for next day

Committee advances AB380 to expand flexible staffing, Medicaid reimbursement for mobile crisis teams

Committee backs biometric verification for Medicaid providers; notarization allowed as fallback

Committee approves hospice ‘bill of rights’ language after testimony about for-profit hospice concerns

Senate Health and Human Services committee advances a package of bills; several measures pass with recorded dissents