Nevada Assembly Health and Human Services Committee advances 23 measures including Medicaid coverage expansions, hospital transparency and cemetery protections

The Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services on April 9, 2025, advanced 23 bills during a work session, voting to amend and carry the measures to the Assembly floor. Committee staff summarized each bill, members asked clarifying questions, and the committee voted on motions to amend and do pass on each measure.

Why it matters: Several bills would change who Medicaid covers or how Medicaid pays for services; others alter licensing, consumer protections, and regulatory oversight for health facilities and related services. Some measures require federal approvals (Medicaid waivers or State Plan amendments) or subsequent rulemaking, which means final implementation depends on actions outside the committee.

Key outcomes and highlights

- Medicaid and coverage changes: The committee advanced multiple bills that would expand or clarify Medicaid coverage and payment policies. Notable examples include AB482 (adds coverage for voluntary sterilization and contraceptive services and requires translation cost coverage), AB514 (adds rehabilitative residential mental health care to Medicaid coverage, excluding room and board), AB516 (requires DHHS to take actions so local and state education agencies can be reimbursed for Medicaid-covered health services provided on school premises and establishes a School Health Access Resource Center), and AB297 (directs the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy to seek federal authority to establish optional Medicaid coverage for home visiting services during pregnancy, birth and postpartum periods). As committee policy analyst Davis Florence summarized, many of these measures “require the division to seek any and all federal authority necessary” to implement Medicaid-covered services.

- Consumer protections and provider rules: AB282 (billing for healthcare) was advanced with an amendment requiring facilities to refund determined overpayments within 60 days and to respond to disputed charges within 30 days while suspending billing of the disputed charge during review. AB343 (hospital price transparency) was amended to change enforcement language and to allow consumer complaints to be filed with the state Bureau of Consumer Protection under the Deceptive Trade Practices provisions; the amendment would prohibit collection or reporting of a disputed medical debt while a claim is reviewed.

- Licensing and workforce: AB483 would require licensing boards and agencies to prioritize review of licensure applications when the applicant demonstrates they will serve a historically underserved community. AB315 would require provider applications to participate in Medicaid to be notarized or verified through a state-approved electronic identity system.

- Pilot programs and studies: AB304 authorizes DHHS, as funding allows, to collect voluntary data on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and similar treatments and to publish findings by July 1, 2027. AB378 creates an alternative therapy pilot program with an advisory panel and continuity-of-care requirements.

- Cemeteries and other topics: AB350 (cemetery protections) was advanced with amendments that, among other things, exempt coroners and public health officers from certain court-order requirements and revise upkeep standards. A public commenter representing a privately owned nonprofit cemetery urged clearer statutory definitions of “maintained” and “safe” to avoid unintended liability and expressed concern about provisions that could allow court-ordered transfers of cemetery ownership.

Votes at a glance (committee action summary)

Note: For each bill the committee voted on a motion to amend and do pass (or to do pass). The committee generally recorded the motion maker (often Vice Chair Wynne) and the second; some members recorded recorded nays in roll call during individual motions. Motion language below follows the meeting record.

- AB220 — Identification cards for persons experiencing homelessness. Sponsor: Assemblymember Hunt. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gray). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: amendment removes requirement that the ID comply with the Real ID Act. (Provenance: intro 2080.47–2107.05; finish 2122.655–2145.34.)

- AB221 — Exemption from permitting for certain anesthesia/sedation in physician offices. Sponsor: Assemblymember Edgeworth. Motion: do pass (moved by Vice Chair Winn; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: exempts physician or dental permit requirement under specified conditions. (Provenance: intro 2154.875–2168.06; finish 2202.88–2217.915.)

- AB282 — Billing for health care; refunds/response timelines. Sponsor: Assemblymember Ortlicker. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed. Notes: amendment requires refund of overpayment within 60 days; facilities must respond within 30 days to disputes and not bill disputed charges during review. Nays recorded: Assemblymembers Gray, Koenig, Edgeworth, Hafen, Hibbitts (per roll call in meeting). (Provenance: intro 2238.5151–2270.5352; finish 2315.28–2343.2998.)

- AB297 — Medicaid coverage for home visiting services (opt-in). Sponsor: Assemblymember Nadeem. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Hunt). Outcome: passed (majority; recorded single nay by Assemblymember Hafen and another nay by Assemblymember Gray during the motion). Notes: amendment directs the division to seek federal authority to establish Medicaid coverage as an optional service for beneficiaries and requires beneficiaries be notified such services are optional. Administrator Stacy Weeks clarified: “No Medicaid beneficiaries shall be required to receive home visiting services during pregnancy, birth, or postpartum periods.” (Provenance: intro 2361.4448–2393.865; finish 2529.415–2548.68.)

- AB304 — Pilot for transcranial magnetic stimulation / electromagnetic brain pulse treatment. Sponsor: Assemblymember Karas. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gray). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: amendment replaces a required pilot with authority for DHHS to collect voluntary data and publish a report by 07/01/2027. (Provenance: intro 2558.195–2569.18; finish 2619.035–2686.18.)

- AB315 — Notarization/electronic verification for Medicaid provider applications. Sponsor: Assemblymember Edgeworth. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Dahlia). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: permits notarization or state-approved electronic identity verification methods. (Provenance: intro 2701.965–2735.515; finish 2764.545–2776.97.)

- AB326 — Statewide trauma needs study and trauma-level designations. Sponsor: Assemblymember Koenig. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Assemblymember Gray; second by Assemblymember Dahlia). Outcome: passed. Notes: requires DHHS to conduct a comprehensive statewide study and accept funding sources; amendment requires disclosure of gifts/grants and a public-comment period. A nay was recorded by Assemblymember Hunt. (Provenance: intro 2796.7898–2831.5999; finish 2863.44–2874.715.)

- AB343 — Hospital price transparency and medical debt protections. Sponsor: Assemblymember Yeager. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Winn; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed. Notes: amendments revise definition of medical debt, shift enforcement away from license revocation and add processes allowing consumers to file claims with the Bureau of Consumer Protection under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act; prohibits collection actions while a dispute is pending. Nays recorded by Assemblymembers Koenig, Edgeworth, Haven, Hibbitts, Gray. (Provenance: intro 2900.705–2917.5698; finish 2996.18–3046.3298.)

- AB350 — Cemetery protections and disinterment rules. Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Judiciary. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: amendments exempt coroners and public health officers from certain court-order requirements and revise upkeep standards. A public commenter representing a privately owned nonprofit cemetery urged clearer statutory definitions of “maintenance” and “safety” and cautioned against provisions that could allow court-ordered transfers of ownership. (Provenance: intro 3152.655–3179.765; finish 3220.47–3240.845.)

- AB352 — Cottage cosmetics and cottage food operations; licensing and sales cap. Sponsor: Assemblymember Anderson. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: transfers regulation of cottage foods to Dept. of Agriculture and increases gross sales cap to $100,000 for craft food operations. (Provenance: intro 3253.3499–3275.3; finish 3333.4001–3383.465.)

- AB368 — Electronic communication devices in assisted-living and supported living settings. Sponsor: Assemblymember Carter. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Hunt). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: extends device rules to supported living arrangement providers and prohibits refusal of services due to a device in the home. (Provenance: intro 3399.49–3404.405; finish 3492.415–3502.895.)

- AB378 — Alternative therapy pilot program. Sponsor: Assemblymember Carter. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Hibbetts). Outcome: passed. Notes: amendment changes discharge-language eligibility to “general” discharge and adds advisory panel and continuity-of-care requirements; one nay recorded by Assemblymember Hafen. (Provenance: intro 3518.71–3522.525; finish 3630.37–3715.93.)

- AB395 — Services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; interpreter access. Sponsors: Assemblymembers Roth and Brown-May. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed. Notes: amendment requires facilities in counties with population 25,000+ to provide notice that qualified ASL interpreters are available, requires good-faith attempts to procure in-person interpreters and creates a statewide list posted by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health. One nay recorded by Assemblymember Hafen. (Provenance: intro 3728.385–3739.52; finish 3769.28–3891.06.)

- AB482 — Medicaid coverage alignment with federal preventive services and dependent coverage to age 26. Sponsor: Committee. Motion: do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: requires coverage for voluntary sterilization and contraception services; requires translation-service payment methodology be developed. (Provenance: intro 3941.04–3943.04; finish 3975.18–4017.705.)

- AB483 — Priority review of licensure applications for providers serving underserved communities. Sponsor: Committee. Motion: do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Hunt). Outcome: passed. Notes: several members raised concerns about census-tract methodology and rural exclusions; recorded nays included Assemblymembers Haven, Hibbitts, Edgeworth, Gray. (Provenance: intro 4025.48–4031.3198; finish 4063.175–4137.9697.)

- AB514 — Medicaid coverage of certain mental health services (rehabilitative residential). Sponsor: Committee. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: includes requirement for State Board of Health regulations; Medicaid coverage excludes room and board and must comply with federal rules. (Provenance: intro 4158.19–4191.02; finish 4222.12–4231.165.)

- AB515 — Adoption assistance funding and carryforward of identified savings. Sponsor: Committee. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Hunt). Outcome: passed (unanimous). Notes: clarifies adoption savings use consistent with federal law. (Provenance: intro 4231.165–4283.1104; finish 4338.4497–4352.045.)

- AB516 — Medicaid reimbursement for school-based health services; School Health Access Resource Center. Sponsor: Committee. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Dalia). Outcome: passed. Notes: amendment replaces references with “local educational agency”; recorded nays included Assemblymembers Hafen, Hibbitts, Gray, Koenig. (Provenance: intro 4393.36–4446.0703; finish 4470.1997–4480.6.)

- AB518 — Interstate Compact on Placement of Children (revised). Sponsor: Committee. Motion: do pass (moved by Assemblymember Gray; second by Assemblymember Dalia). Outcome: passed (unanimous). (Provenance: intro 4512.015–4532.0103; finish 4532.0103–4552.12.)

- AB519 — Licensing/regulation of nonmedical personal care agencies; family caregiver training. Sponsor: Committee. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gray). Outcome: passed (unanimous). (Provenance: intro 4559.8003–4564.5454; finish 4618.3–4663.3696.)

- AB520 — Adoption background investigations; five-year rechecks. Sponsor: Committee. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed (unanimous). (Provenance: intro 4678.485–4684.005; finish 4720.52–4780.4.)

- AB521 — Protection of children; release of central registry information. Sponsor: Committee. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Assemblymember Gray; second by Assemblymember Hunt). Outcome: passed (unanimous). (Provenance: intro 4806.05–4811.65; finish 4854.7954–4881.545.)

- AB522 — Health insurance coverage for dependents to age 26 and preventive services. Sponsor: Committee. Motion: amend and do pass (moved by Vice Chair Wynne; second by Assemblymember Gonzales). Outcome: passed. Notes: multiple stakeholder-submitted amendments concerning specific preventive-service coverage and screening provisions; nays recorded by Assemblymembers Hafen, Hibbitts, Edgeworth, Koenig, Gray. (Provenance: intro 4890.12–4901.895; finish 5127.5703–5158.2.)

Discussion, clarifications and next steps

Committee staff repeatedly noted that several measures require post-enactment rulemaking or federal authorization (Medicaid State Plan changes or waivers). For bills involving Medicaid coverage changes, Davis Florence (Committee Policy Analyst) clarified staff cannot support or oppose measures and summarized the amendments and required administrative steps. Administrator Stacy Weeks (DHHS) clarified that proposed home-visiting Medicaid coverage would be optional and that beneficiaries must be notified the service is optional: “No Medicaid beneficiaries shall be required to receive home visiting services during pregnancy, birth, or postpartum periods.”

A public commenter speaking about AB350 (cemetery protections) urged the Legislature to define terms such as “maintained” and “safe,” to limit lawsuits to documented problems rather than personal dissatisfaction, and to avoid mechanisms that could allow a court to transfer a nonprofit cemetery’s ownership without due process.

What to watch: Several bills that change Medicaid-covered services will require the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy to seek federal authority before the changes take effect. AB304 requires DHHS to publish a report by July 1, 2027, on voluntary data collection for TMS/EMBP. Several bills direct the State Board of Health or DHHS to adopt implementing regulations.

Ending: The committee concluded its work session after advancing the measures and hearing one public comment; members and staff exchanged thanks at adjournment.