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Committee hears broad bill to codify preventive-care coverage and nondiscrimination protections into state law
Summary
AB 522 would codify Affordable Care Act preventive-service rules into Nevada law, extend dependent coverage to age 26 and add nondiscrimination language; sponsors and multiple health stakeholders testified in support and some insurers raised concerns about duplication and unintended consequences if federal rules change.
Assembly Bill 522, a comprehensive measure to codify preventive health coverage standards and nondiscrimination protections in Nevada law, was presented and heard by the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services on May 1, 2025.
Chair Tracy Brown May, the bill's sponsor, summarized the proposal as a three-part package: (1) codification of Affordable Care Act provisions that allow dependent children to stay on a parent's plan through age 26; (2) explicit nondiscrimination protections for consumers and providers based on characteristics such as race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy; and (3) state-level requirements to cover preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for children, maternal and infant health, and adults without additional cost-sharing beyond existing federal requirements.
"For my family, that has been essential," Brown May said when explaining the dependent-coverage provision. Committee staff and the sponsor emphasized that many preventive recommendations are already required under federal law and that AB 522 largely codifies those expectations into state statute across multiple types of plans, including Medicaid and public-employee plans.
Supporters who spoke included Lisonbee Herzig of Dignity Health Saint Rose Dominican, Robert Purdy representing the Nevada chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Annie Vong of the Nevada Primary Care Association, and a parent, Julie Smith Gagen, who described the practical importance of continuous coverage for a child with type 1 diabetes.
Neutral testimony came from the Nevada Association of Health Plans, the Health Services Coalition and representatives of employer/retiree plans. Shelly Caparo (Nevada Association of Health Plans) and Chelsea Caparo (Health Services Coalition) said they support many items in the bill — notably the dependent coverage provision — but asked to work with sponsors to avoid duplication, administrative burdens, unintended costs, and confusion if future federal guidance diverges from state requirements. Ryan Beeman, representing Professional Firefighters of Nevada, emphasized issues with retiree-only plans not subject to ACA requirements and expressed willingness to work with sponsors.
Members asked technical questions about the interaction with federal law, the range of insurance plans affected and how coverage would apply to dependents living out of state or qualifying for Medicaid. Brown May said the bill aims to make protections clear and consistent in state law while acknowledging federal law currently requires several of the measures.
Provenance (selected evidence from the transcript): "Assembly bill 522 revises provisions relating to health care... I would like to briefly summarize the core features that this bill entails, and it can be broken out into 3 sections." (Chair Tracy Brown May) "We see firsthand the benefits of preventive services as prescribed by the Affordable Care Act, and we support anything that seeks to protect that." (Lisonbee Herzig, Dignity Health Saint Rose Dominican)
Ending: Committee members accepted testimony and asked clarifying questions. Neutral parties asked to work with the sponsor on drafting to avoid unintended administrative or cost impacts. The committee closed the hearing; sponsors indicated ongoing engagement with insurers and stakeholder groups as the bill moves forward.
