Carson City — The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services heard Assembly Bill 326, a proposal to let Nevada recognize trauma level 4 emergency departments at certain rural critical‑access hospitals.

Sponsor Greg Koenig (Assembly District 38) and Blaine Osborne, representing hospital partners, told the committee the bill authorizes the State Board of Health to adopt regulations recognizing trauma level 4, a designation Nevada does not currently use. “Level 4 trauma center[s] have demonstrated an ability to provide advanced trauma life support to patients prior to transfer to a higher‑level trauma center,” Osborne said. He described level 4 facilities as providing “evaluation, stabilization, and diagnostic capabilities for injured patients.”

The bill limits the designation to critical‑access hospitals situated more than 80 miles from a county that has two or more currently designated trauma centers; testimony noted that currently applies only to Clark County. Supporters said the change would improve training, standardize transfer procedures and reduce treatment time in remote areas. Koenig said one critical‑access hospital was ready to pursue the designation.

No fiscal note, appropriation or impact on Clark County or the Southern Nevada Health District was reported during the hearing. There was no public testimony for or against the bill in Carson City or from callers in Las Vegas.

The committee closed the hearing and later included AB326 on a consent “do pass” motion along with two other bills. Vice Chair Taylor moved the motion and Senator Stone seconded; the committee recorded the motion as carrying unanimously.

Background: The State Board of Health currently recognizes trauma levels 1–3. AB326 would add statutory authority for a level 4 designation by regulation and restrict eligibility to specified remote critical‑access facilities.

The committee did not take additional amendments on the record at the hearing; members indicated the bill would return for the work session later in the meeting.