Healthcare (Primary Care)

AB 337 creates two new programs to improve dementia care in Nevada. It requires the Aging and Disability Services Division to establish a dementia care specialist program providing crisis intervention, home-based support, and translation services for people with dementia and their families. The bill also authorizes UNLV and UNR medical schools to create the Nevada Memory Network, establishing clinics to train primary care providers in dementia screening, diagnosis, and care planning using telehealth. These programs aim to help individuals with dementia remain in their homes or with family instead of moving to long-term care facilities, with implementation dependent on available funding.

SB 212 appropriates $50 million from the State General Fund to City of Hope for an outpatient cancer treatment clinic in Clark County. It requires City of Hope to partner with the UNLV Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine for clinical training and submit detailed spending reports to oversight committees by specific deadlines (December 2026 and September 2027). The bill creates an Oncology Excellence Committee within the Department of Health and Human Services to verify the training agreement and monitor fund usage, with the committee expiring on October 1, 2027. Funds must be fully spent or reverted to the state by September 17, 2027, and cannot be used for purposes beyond clinic setup (e.g., leases, equipment, staff).

AB 522 requires Nevada health insurance plans (including Medicaid) to cover adult children of insured individuals until age 26, aligning with federal law. It expands preventive care coverage to include colorectal cancer screenings, breast cancer prevention medications for high-risk patients, and maternity/newborn care, while prohibiting higher deductibles or copays for these services. The bill directly affects insured Nevadans, particularly young adults, pregnant people, and those needing preventive screenings. Key provisions mandate specific coverage for recommended services from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and Health Resources and Services Administration, with no additional out-of-pocket costs for covered preventive care.

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.

SB 246 requires certain health insurance plans to allow women to access covered gynecological or obstetrical services without first getting a referral from their primary care physician. It applies to health plans covering small employer employees, fraternal benefit societies, managed care organizations, public employee benefits, and Medicaid. The law, effective January 1, 2026, mandates this change by adding a provision to insurance contracts, making any conflicting terms void. It does not permit designating an OB/GYN as a primary care physician. This is a policy change to streamline access to specific reproductive health services under existing coverage.

SB 128 modifies healthcare coverage rules to protect patients from automated denials and improve access to information about stem cell treatments. It prohibits health insurers (including Medicaid, CHIP, and public employee plans) from using AI or automated tools to deny, modify, or reduce coverage for prior authorization requests, requiring human review by qualified healthcare professionals instead. The bill also mandates that doctors discuss stem cell therapy options with patients diagnosed with conditions like arthritis or osteoarthritis, and inform new primary care patients about stem cell donation, banking, or storage options during their first visit. These changes directly affect patients seeking coverage, healthcare providers, and insurers operating in Nevada.