Assembly Bill No. 593

Assembly Bill No. 593-Assemblymen Williams, de Braga

and Berman

June 11, 1997
____________

Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

SUMMARY--Creates statewide advisory committee for breast and cervical cancer control and prevention program and makes appropriations. (BDR 40-1326)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.

EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.

AN ACT relating to health care; creating an advisory committee for the breast and cervical cancer control and prevention program of the health division of the department of human resources; making appropriations; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Whereas, Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in the State of Nevada; and
Whereas, In 1996, more than 960 women in the State of Nevada were diagnosed with breast cancer and 243 women died from the disease; and
Whereas, Cervical cancer is the third most common form of gynecological cancer among women in the State of Nevada; and
Whereas, In 1996, at least 90 women in the State of Nevada were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 30 women died from the disease; and
Whereas, Early detection and treatment of breast and cervical cancer saves lives and reduces the cost of health care; and
Whereas, Low-income and underinsured or uninsured women are often unable to obtain education, prevention and treatment services which would lead to the early detection and cost-effective treatment of breast and cervical cancer, causing preventable loss of life; and
Whereas, Local access to mammography services for low-income women located in medically underserved areas of this state improves participation in the breast cancer screening program and reduces the fear and anxiety of such women related to obtaining such services; and
Whereas, Women in rural areas in northern Nevada lack access to mammography services because of geographic isolation and low population densities; and
Whereas, The bureau of disease control and intervention of the health division of the department of human resources has received a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services for a breast and cervical cancer education and screening program for low-income women between the ages of 40 and 64 years; and
Whereas, Full implementation of the program has been delayed because of the lack of resources; and
Whereas, The Nevada Legislature desires to increase the effectiveness of the breast and cervical cancer screening programs, maximize the use of federal funds and effectuate the full implementation of the programs of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; now, therefore,

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1 Chapter 457 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 and 3 of this act.
Sec. 2 1. There is hereby created an advisory committee to the breast and cervical cancer early detection program of the health division, or its successor program. The administrator of the health division shall appoint to the advisory committee:
(a) Two recipients of services provided by the breast and cervical cancer early detection program, one from northern Nevada and one from southern Nevada;
(b) Two representatives from organizations that provide community-based services to low-income women, one from northern Nevada and one from southern Nevada;
(c) Two oncologists, one from northern Nevada and one from southern Nevada;
(d) Two representatives from hospitals, one from northern Nevada and one from southern Nevada;
(e) Two representatives from federally-qualified health centers, one from northern Nevada and one from southern Nevada; and
(f) One representative from the American Cancer Society.
The members of the advisory committee are not entitled to any additional compensation for their service in that capacity.
2. The committee shall:
(a) Advise and make recommendations to the breast and cervical cancer early detection program of the health division, or its successor program; and
(b) Promote community awareness of breast cancer and cervical cancer.
3. For the purposes of this section, "federally-qualified health center" has the meaning ascribed to it in 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(l)(2)(B).
Sec. 3 1. The breast and cervical cancer early detection program of the health division, or its successor program, shall contract with any federally-qualified health center located in a medically underserved area of this state, as that term is defined by the officer of rural health of the University of Nevada School of Medicine, that wishes to contract with the program to provide education and screening services related to breast cancer and cervical cancer if the federally-qualified health center is capable of adequately providing such services.
2. For the purposes of this section, "federally-qualified health center" has the meaning ascribed to it in 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(l)(2)(B).
Sec. 4 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to the health division of the department of human resources the sum of $180,000 for the purchase of a mobile mammography machine and van that will be operated by a federally-qualified health center located in northern Nevada to provide screening and detection services to isolated rural populations.
2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 1999, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 5. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to the health division of the department of human resources for the operation, including staffing, insurance, equipment maintenance and operation of the mobile mammography van for which money was appropriated by section 4 of this act:

For the fiscal year 1997-1998 $200,000

For the fiscal year 1998-1999 $200,000

2. The sums appropriated by subsection 1 are available for either fiscal year. Any balance of those sums must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 1999, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 6. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to the Community Health Centers of Southern Nevada the sum of $120,000 for the purchase of a mammography machine and installation costs.
2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 1999, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 7. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to the health division of the department of human resources to provide medically necessary Loop Electric Excision Procedure diagnostic and treatment procedures for women identified as requiring such testing for cervical cancer:

For the fiscal year 1997-1998 $64,000

For the fiscal year 1998-1999 $64,000

For the fiscal year 1997-1998 $123,469

For the fiscal year 1998-1999 $123,469

For the fiscal year 1997-1998 $1,021,016

For the fiscal year 1998-1999 $1,021,016