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UMC seeks statutory clarity to operate crisis stabilization center, modernize residency language
Summary
University Medical Center asked the Senate Health Committee for statutory changes to permit a separate provider structure for a new 24/7 crisis stabilization center and to modernize language authorizing employment of "interns" to cover residents and fellows; the bill drew support from regional hospital partners and Clark County.
Shana Tello, academic and external affairs administrator at University Medical Center, presented Senate Bill 408 to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. UMC described opening a 24/7 crisis stabilization center that would provide medical detox, counseling, intensive outpatient therapy and short-term stabilization to people experiencing a behavioral-health crisis and said the bill would clarify the hospital’s ability to offer these services through a separate organization or provider number where appropriate.
Tello said the center is intended to decompress the emergency department by matching patients to an appropriate level of care, providing medication and follow-up community resources. The bill also seeks to modernize statutory language that currently authorizes hospitals to employ “physicians, dentists and interns” by replacing “interns” with “residents and fellows” and by clarifying application to dental residency programs in a conceptual amendment offered at the hearing.
Blaine Osborne of Nevada Rural Hospital Partners and Joanna Jacob of Clark County testified in support, saying the change would give UMC operational flexibility and help the county coordinate services for people in crisis. No opposition was recorded during the hearing.
Closing: Sponsors asked the committee to adopt language clarifying UMC’s authority to deliver crisis stabilization services and to update residency-related statutory language to reflect current training nomenclature and practice.
