Senate approves measure to offer presumptive Medicaid eligibility for newborns in NICU; hospitals’ Medicaid status debated

The Nevada Senate on April 16 approved Senate Bill 138, which requires birthing hospitals to provide parents the option to enroll infants in presumptive Medicaid eligibility if the newborn is placed in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The Senate passed the bill by a roll-call vote of 18 yes to 3 no and ordered it to the Assembly.

Senator Cannizzaro urged support, saying parents whose newborns require intensive care should not face insurmountable medical bills. “The last thing that they want to think about is how am I going to afford all of the very intensive medical treatment that is going to save my baby's life?” she said, and described testimony from families who later faced tens of thousands in medical debt. Cannizzaro said the bill “doesn't change the people the babies who would be eligible for Medicaid” but would ensure that hospitals offer the option of presumptive eligibility so families could focus on their child’s care.

Senator Titus opposed the bill, saying she worried it would effectively mandate private hospitals to accept Medicaid and that it was unclear whether compliance would be tied to hospital licensure. “My issue is with this bill is that it is a mandate in my mind for private hospitals to accept Medicaid,” she said.

Senator Cannizzaro responded that birthing hospitals with NICU beds in Nevada already accept Medicaid and that the bill would be tied to licensure requirements with implementation time provided to institutions. “Any hospital that has NICU beds absolutely accepts Medicaid,” she said.

Supporters framed the bill as a narrow measure to reduce families’ financial burden when a newborn requires intensive medical care; opponents warned about potential regulatory and reimbursement consequences for hospitals. SB 138 passed the Senate 18-3 and was ordered to the Assembly.