Health and Human Services

AB 463 revises California health insurance rules for prior authorization, directly affecting insurers (including Medicaid, CHIP, and public employee plans), healthcare providers, and patients. It requires insurers to approve or deny non-urgent care requests within 48 hours and urgent care within 24 hours, mandates physician/dentist reviews for denials, and prohibits prior authorization for emergency services, preventive care, and certain chronic treatments. The bill also bans insurers from denying coverage due to missing prior authorization if it wasn’t required for that care at the time, and requires clear online disclosure of authorization procedures. Insurers must honor prior authorizations for up to 12 months (or longer for chronic conditions) and pay full rates for approved services.

AB 352 creates a new licensing system for small home-based businesses selling cosmetics and food in Nevada, directly affecting individuals who make and sell these products from their homes. It exempts cottage cosmetics operations (with annual sales under $100,000) from full state licensing requirements but requires them to apply for a state license, pay fees, and register with the Department of Agriculture. Similarly, it revises rules for cottage food operations (also capped at $100,000 annual sales), allowing online/in-person sales and requiring state licensing instead of local health authority registration. The bill also increases the sales cap for craft food operations from $35,000 to $100,000 annually and includes federal compliance requirements for child support checks.

SB 329 requires ambulance attendants, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and peace officers to complete training on identifying and interacting with people experiencing dementia or other cognitive impairments. New applicants must finish this training before receiving their license or certification, and current license holders must provide proof of completion by October 1, 2026. The bill clarifies that completing this training does not change the legal standard of care or increase the duty of these first responders. This policy aims to improve emergency response interactions with vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly people or those with cognitive challenges.

AB 448 updates Nevada's insurance laws to regulate vision care coverage. It bars insurers from conditioning reimbursement rates on specific eyewear prescriptions or requiring providers to use particular labs. The bill also prevents insurers from forcing vision care providers to join multiple plans and requires providers to disclose financial ties to eyewear suppliers. These rules apply to all vision insurance plans and discount programs, effective January 1, 2026.

SB 187 requires child welfare agencies to make decisions about non-emergency medical or mental health care for children in their custody within 14 days of receiving a provider's recommendation. The bill mandates agencies to seek consent from required parties (such as parents or courts) within this timeframe and immediately notify the child's placement location about all decisions. It directly affects children under child welfare custody who need medical treatment. The law establishes clear deadlines to prevent delays in accessing necessary care while maintaining required consent processes.