Makes revisions relating to laboratory testing. (BDR 40-123)

Existing law requires the State Public Health Laboratory to make available, at such charges as may be established, to health officials, the Director of the State Department of Agriculture and licensed physicians of the State, proper laboratory facilities for the prompt diagnosis of communicable diseases. (NRS 439.240) Existing law requires the State Board of Health to adopt regulations governing examinations and tests required for the discovery in infants of preventable or inheritable disorders. Existing law further requires any physician, midwife, nurse, freestanding birthing center or hospital of any nature attending or assisting any infant, or the person who gave birth to any infant, at childbirth to: (1) examine the infant in accordance with those regulations; and (2) collect and send to the State Public Health Laboratory any specimens needed for the examinations and tests that must be performed by a laboratory. (NRS 442.008) Section 3 of this bill authorizes the State Public Health Laboratory, on or after January 1, 2026, to charge a fee of not more than $150 or the rate of reimbursement paid by Medicaid, whichever is less, for the required examinations and tests for the discovery in infants of preventable or inheritable disorders. Section 1 of this bill makes a conforming change to clarify that the State Public Health Laboratory establishes the fee for such examinations and tests pursuant to section 3. Section 3 also removes a requirement that the State Public Health Laboratory hold a public hearing before increasing that fee. Section 68.7 of this bill authorizes the State Public Health Laboratory, on or after July 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2026, to charge a fee of not more than $122 for the required examinations and tests for the discovery in infants of preventable or inheritable disorders. Existing law requires the Department of Health and Human Services to administer the Medicaid program. (NRS 422.270) Section 3.7 of this bill requires the Director of the Department to provide reimbursement under Medicaid for the required examinations and tests for the discovery in infants of preventable or inheritable disorders separately from the reimbursement provided for other labor and delivery services and newborn care. Section 3.4 of this bill makes a conforming change to indicate that the provisions of section 3.7 will be administered in the same manner as the provisions of existing law governing Medicaid. Section 68.3 of this bill requires the Director to submit to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, to the extent that money is available and as soon as practicable, a request to include under Medicaid a rate of reimbursement of not more than $122 for such examinations and tests. Sections 3.7 and 68.3 authorize the Director to increase that rate of reimbursement to not more than $150 on or after January 1, 2026.

• Carrie Ann BuckR