[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6606508,"mediaKeyId","2964415-115ac5c7cacef8c434667a3a290ab8c4","parentId",2964415,"title","Senate committee hears divided testimony on SB249 to expand CRNA authority","audioSeconds",3345,"startMs",1429000,"endMs",4774000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2964415-115ac5c7cacef8c434667a3a290ab8c4&start=1429&end=4774","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2964415-115ac5c7cacef8c434667a3a290ab8c4/thumbnail_1429000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606508/Nevada/Senate-committee-hears-divided-testimony-on-SB249-to-expand-CRNA-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606508-607c20908f02a90eb26ce62e7db39665/orig.mp4?Expires=1771087998&Signature=n939P13zaXdB619OiEKQf7JsxUYq0hLPErTEPc32EMVwf24kaB5fveZT9KhRvTmhNPfY3eR6ZA8D7d09yW98fT1C9o8eXhA7DIV-xG4rZFbZ8OqFUWSHPf2BTs0EmmN0PcLxgk7BTYHNVFsg7RpDdcUcRMJKeVTZT-UnvwLsoq~DPDXZFhxMRPWbY5MzXn71LTgNbeElLpljKEUsNmSaOHiwf7flkrsfz96JVPuwv8rkERxCXWDzinwAIMsAVD8Q7Yru6Sge5ogItbLr-DuY6D0g9mI3xK-rGbW5hhfR97nHzNXWEAgwpVYdiTLXDhB5EHO-P0Pd6iuRow6413jnsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada State Legislature","date","2025-04-11T18:38:32.077Z","article","Carson City — The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee heard more than an hour of testimony on SB249, a bill that would change Nevada law to allow certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to possess and administer medications needed for anesthesia without a physician order outside of the state’s current critical‑access exemptions.

Proponents said the bill would remove a two‑tiered regulatory system that limits CRNA practice in non‑rural settings, improve access to surgical care and retain newly trained providers in Nevada. Brian Hansen, a CRNA who practices in Las Vegas and at a critical access hospital in Mesquite, told the committee Nevada “lacks much of the basic framework to make our healthcare system great” and said SB249 would “allow surgeons to focus on surgery and CRNAs to focus on anesthesia.”

The bill’s presenters included Paul Young of Tom Clark Solutions, speaking for the Nevada Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and Dr. James Stimpson, director of UNLV’s nurse‑anesthesia program. Stimpson described the CRNA education pathway — including at least two years of critical‑care nursing experience followed by roughly 36 months of anesthesia training with thousands of clinical hours — and said, “not once have I ever had a bad anesthesia outcome” in decades of independent practice in other states.

Hospital and health system representatives also testified in support. Reagan Comas with R&R Partners said UMC supports the measure, and Carson Tahoe Health’s Victoria Supple said the change would “allow highly trained and highly skilled providers to maximize their practice and provide quality care to patients.” Several CRNAs and an ICU nurse who is training to be a CRNA described local workforce shortages and urged passage to retain providers who otherwise move to neighboring states.

Opponents included the Nevada State Society of Anesthesiologists (NVSSA) and the Nevada State Medical Association, which argued the bill would reduce oversight and pose patient‑safety risks. Cassidy Wilson, representing NVSSA, told the committee that “authorizing CRNAs to practice independently without physician supervision raises serious concern regarding patient safety and quality of care.” Multiple physician anesthesiologists calling in from Nevada emphasized longer physician training paths and cited studies they said show higher adverse‑event odds when anesthesia is provided solely by CRNAs.

The Board of Pharmacy’s executive director, Dave Weese, said the board had issued controlled‑substance licenses to “just under 20” CRNAs in critical access settings and reported no public complaints during the last biennium. Committee members asked whether existing critical‑access reporting showed harms; proponents said they were not aware of increased incidents in rural sites where CRNAs already practice without physician orders.

Committee members also asked for comparative safety data from other states. Opponents referenced additional studies and a recent letter from the American Society of Anesthesiologists; bill supporters said they would supply state‑by‑state implementation information and pointed to periods during the COVID‑19 pandemic when supervision waivers did not lead to increases in malpractice claims.

No formal vote on SB249 occurred in the hearing. The committee limited in‑person testimony to two minutes per speaker because it was deadline day. The record includes extensive written comments and follow‑up offers from both sides to provide studies and model statutes for the committee’s review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/11/2025 - Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor","oneSentenceSummary","Carson City — The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee heard competing testimony on SB249, a proposal to let certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) possess and administer anesthesia medications without physician orders outside critical‑access hospitals, with proponents saying the change will expand access and opponents warning it could reduce oversight and threaten patient safety.","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},6606502,"Lawmakers weigh prior‑authorization and autism coverage changes in SB398 hearing",1794,10833000,12627000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2964415-115ac5c7cacef8c434667a3a290ab8c4&start=10833&end=12627","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2964415-115ac5c7cacef8c434667a3a290ab8c4/thumbnail_10833000.jpg","/articles/6606502/Nevada/Lawmakers-weigh-priorauthorization-and-autism-coverage-changes-in-SB398-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606502-75d85080f01e569aa320536c9a662064/orig.mp4?Expires=1771087998&Signature=XCvpMxBWOoVpZPSmd61dQIaK~APF29Oz-DTfGXXqbR2kCKf-Octbl6aN7QXCdO5J7wPJZPbJwJLyBZ9WCHrJBGPLMPG3EOm2XrsUJMoHq9S26cU89xunOA210j93gF~4i-8O14MNh6skwJzS6eZVgV5~WmAywmZhOSou2KOVaywfE6q194bcxdtUWoovKC9HPknbmg1C1~mXIfatZVbEWURpP4KICNUcyTCb3DRpXRh444x55dVUAFvDWmb16cWx5ZGEZ7aIWVtdhD32AQNg7yIEk6P~A8neB1aepuiFHAFoVFXy5QXvp6CuH1v~7zUshYaYVo9mOahEw8yIm470Zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carson City — The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee heard testimony on SB398, a bill that aims to reform prior‑authorization processes across carriers and to modify coverage rules for therapies commonly used for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including applied behavior analysis (ABA).

Sen. Lori Rogich described the bill as an effort to align state law with federal mental‑health parity standards and to reduce delays that stakeholders say harm patients. Dr. Samantha Schneider, a board‑certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, described clinical examples in which prior‑authorization delays affected cancer treatment and chronic dermatologic care and urged faster timelines and easier peer‑to‑peer reviews with appropriate specialists.

Families, autism providers and advocates emphasized the ABA provisions. Kim Mack Rosenberg, an attorney representing families and ABA providers, told the committee ABA is the accepted standard of care for ASD and said therapy should not be limited by age, arbitrary visit caps or place‑of‑service restrictions. Rosenberg argued such limits could violate federal parity rules and reduce functional gains for individuals who require therapy across settings.

Medical and mental‑health organizations — including the Nevada Psychiatric Association and the Nevada State Medical Association — supported prior‑authorization reform as a patient‑safety and access measure. Parents and provider groups urged removal of dollar and visit caps and an end to place‑of‑service exclusions that block school‑based or in‑community ABA when medically necessary.

Insurers and employer groups opposed broad prohibitions on prior authorization and raised operational concerns. The Nevada Association of Health Plans and AHIP said prior authorization is a tool to promote evidence‑based care and to reduce low‑value spending; they urged narrower, targeted reforms and asked for time to work with sponsors on operational details. The Division of Insurance explained that age alone cannot legally be used to terminate coverage and warned that removing statutory floors on maximum benefits could unintentionally reduce existing benefits unless the bill’s drafting is adjusted.

Several speakers asked the committee to reconcile SB398 with federal parity and Medicaid rules and to clarify whether removing a statutory $72,000 benchmark would alter existing coverage floors. The Division of Insurance recommended technical drafting fixes and offered to help the sponsor craft language that preserves or expands access without causing unintended reductions or fiscal consequences. The hearing record includes offers from insurers and advocates to continue negotiations.","SB398 would tighten prior‑authorization timelines, require peer‑to‑peer reviews with same‑specialty clinicians, and address limits on coverage for applied behavior analysis (ABA) for autism; medical and disability advocates supported reform while insurers warned of cost and operational impacts.",{"_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},6606505,"Senate bill seeks to move intoxicating hemp sales into licensed dispensaries after spike in unregulated product calls",5997,4835000,10832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2964415-115ac5c7cacef8c434667a3a290ab8c4&start=4835&end=10832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2964415-115ac5c7cacef8c434667a3a290ab8c4/thumbnail_4835000.jpg","/articles/6606505/Nevada/Senate-bill-seeks-to-move-intoxicating-hemp-sales-into-licensed-dispensaries-after-spike-in-unregulated-product-calls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606505-be6746822690f740dc4657dc719942e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771087998&Signature=UZ93xJPjjUPQlpiJeC6b2O0yv9avPoVdPbV8nCwAfUKFXCAEIjPT2Jiwlj8tD8C1LYmf153y3RBCeNoRq-wnlb9xK~VZnuTO~DBCpZSUiG9NM8bJKBn7Erc~e-fkRCMabjaaqpqhyGJKfFvc2MTjXN39WvqPXhXoYa4lrLYqkTQlUGWBmVKu9trlnfJgdw6P~qwyoFP-hSzjpXtYIAS6rAsQjuLnX3hGZw~th8yaymkz2NjKgWQfRBXv2r5skv61~5UQBgQ3FOIlN01howFsZBd2c8cT6CubozL1qwjmb01rBiVeCxZGAGiJ9~52FpJQ2kkA0OHUZLhNy-mQuajk1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carson City — The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee heard lengthy testimony on SB356, a bill and conceptual amendment that would prohibit the manufacture and sale of consumable hemp products that contain intoxicating cannabinoids outside licensed cannabis dispensaries and would add testing, labeling and enforcement tools for intoxicating hemp products.

Sen. Lori Rogich, sponsor of SB356, told members the measure grew from growing public‑safety concerns and from a personal family tragedy. Rogich described how her adult daughter died after consuming an unregulated product that contained additional psychoactive substances and said many intoxicating hemp products are packaged and marketed in ways that appeal to children.

Lake Martin of the Nevada Cannabis Association summarized the amendment’s approach: it defines “consumable hemp product,” restricts sale of products with intoxicating cannabinoids to licensed dispensaries, and adds testing and enforcement authority for the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) and local jurisdictions. Martin said the amendment removes an earlier CCB fiscal note by narrowing oversight and preserving existing producers’ ability to continue lawful activity.

Supporters included local jurisdictions and public‑safety representatives. Henderson, Clark County and Las Vegas said the bill would give clearer enforcement authority, and law‑enforcement and fire representatives said illicit or untested products have led to poison‑control calls and harmful incidents. Lake Martin and the Cannabis Compliance Board’s chief of health and safety explained regulators’ current limits and why packaging and labeling often provide no reliable consumer information.

Many hemp manufacturers, retailers and trade groups opposed the bill as drafted. Businesses that make legitimate CBD, CBG, and other non‑intoxicating products said the amendment’s definitions would sweep lawful low‑THC products into dispensary‑only sales and could force small Nevada manufacturers and retailers out of business. Speakers asked the committee to preserve sales of lab‑tested, non‑intoxicating hemp products in age‑gated retail environments and to consider a carve‑out for low‑dose, tested hemp beverages distributed through alcohol retailers under an age‑gated model. Trade groups pointed to other states that regulate low‑dose beverages through established systems.

Several witnesses described their operations: licensed Nevada growers and CBD manufacturers said they use third‑party labs (COAs) and follow GMP/ISO standards. Some opponents said the bill, as amended, risks eliminating businesses that have invested to meet testing and labeling standards. Advocates for stricter rules urged the committee to act, saying legislation in other states led to fewer poison‑center calls and made it easier for law enforcement to identify illegal products.

Sen. Rogich indicated willingness to work with stakeholders on carve‑outs and budget impacts; the Cannabis Compliance Board said it would work to reduce the earlier fiscal note. The committee heard extensive public comment both in Carson City and Las Vegas; testimony left the record with detailed industry technical questions and requests for clearer labeling and enforcement language.","Sponsors said SB356 will prohibit intoxicating hemp products (Delta‑8/Delta‑10/HHC and synthetics) from being sold outside licensed cannabis dispensaries and add testing, labeling and enforcement tools; hemp producers and CBD retailers urged narrower regulation to protect lawful hemp businesses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee hears divided testimony on SB249 to expand CRNA authority

Lawmakers weigh prior‑authorization and autism coverage changes in SB398 hearing

Senate bill seeks to move intoxicating hemp sales into licensed dispensaries after spike in unregulated product calls