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Assembly passes Senate Bill 3 78 despite members' warnings it could reduce emergency care access
Summary
The Nevada Assembly approved Senate Bill 3 78, which revises provisions relating to health care, by a 27-15 vote after members, including physicians, warned the measure could limit access to emergency medical services and urged a no vote.
The Nevada Assembly voted 27-15 to pass Senate Bill 3 78, described on the floor as a measure that "revises provisions relating to health care," and sent the bill to the Senate for further consideration.
The bill matters because several Assembly members warned on the floor that its changes could reduce access to emergency medical services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Those concerns were raised during debate preceding the final roll call.
Assembly member Edgeworth, who identified himself as a physician during floor remarks, said on the record: "SB 3 78 is a dangerous step backwards. This bill threatens to reduce access to life saving emergency medical services, placing lives at risk, particularly in underserved communities where hospitals are few and far between. If passed, it will leave countless Nevadans vulnerable at their most critical moments." Edgeworth urged colleagues to vote no on the bill.
Assembly member Kasama also registered opposition and recounted a personal medical emergency to illustrate access concerns: "I just actually don't understand, the impetus for this bill where I feel like we're reducing access to health care. Many of you know that my husband 3 years ago collapsed. And if it wasn't for the freestanding emergency room or or, building that was close to our home where I was able to rush him to. And it was there that they discovered, hit the tumor he had, stage 4 cancer." Kasama said the nearby freestanding emergency facility provided critical, timely care when hospital emergency rooms were crowded.
On the floor, the Assembly read the bill as "Senate bill number 3 78," noting it was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Donate et al. and listed Assembly member Gray among those associated with the measure. No amendment debate specifying changes to the bill's substantive language was recorded in the transcript excerpts for this floor action.
After debate, the chief clerk opened the roll for a recorded vote. The clerk recorded 27 ayes and 15 nays; the presiding officer declared the bill had received a constitutional majority, "declared passed and ordered to the Senate." The Assembly record shows the bill will proceed to the Senate for further action.
The transcript does not detail the specific statutory changes contained in SB 3 78 beyond the floor description that it "revises provisions relating to health care." It also does not list which Assembly members cast aye or nay votes in the recorded tally shown on the floor.
