Bill > SB378

This bill makes comprehensive revisions to healthcare regulations in Nevada, focusing on several key areas. It establishes new requirements for electronic health records, mandating that medical facilities and high-level healthcare providers (such as physicians, physician assistants, dentists, and advanced practice nurses) maintain and exchange health information electronically, with some exemptions for smaller practices. The bill also introduces significant changes to independent centers for emergency medical care, requiring them to be licensed separately from hospitals and to provide urgent care services during all operating hours. Additionally, the legislation implements a new system of value-based payments for Medicaid, authorizes the review of sealed records for Medicaid provider suitability, and allows the state to audit and potentially deny Medicaid claims that are deemed inappropriate or unnecessary. The bill prohibits non-competition covenants from applying to patient-facing healthcare providers and establishes new requirements for healthcare record maintenance and transmission, including mandating that health record custodians provide electronic records to patients within seven business days at no charge. Furthermore, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to create a program to increase public awareness about independent emergency medical care centers, including collecting and publishing detailed information about their operations and patient outcomes.