Bill > SB348

This bill establishes several new requirements related to the closure or conversion of hospitals in counties with populations of 100,000 or more (currently Clark and Washoe Counties). The key provisions are: 1. It requires a person to obtain written approval from the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services before closing a hospital or converting it into a different type of health facility in these counties. The Division of Public and Behavioral Health cannot issue or alter a license for such a conversion without this approval. 2. It authorizes the Department to impose civil penalties and take disciplinary action against persons who close or convert hospitals in these counties without the required written approval. 3. It requires off-campus locations of hospitals that provide emergency services to post notices and provide patients with information about being charged for an emergency room visit rather than an urgent care visit. 4. It doubles the administrative penalty the Division can impose on a hospital that fails to obtain a distinct national provider identifier for an off-campus location. 5. It requires the Board of Medical Examiners and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine to investigate and potentially impose penalties on physician group practices or owners that fail to timely notify the Department of certain business transactions.