2023 Nevada Revised Statutes › Chapter 232 - State Departments › NRS 232.459 - Duties of Advocate; authority of Advocate to adopt regulations. [Effective through December 31, 2025.] Duties of Advocate; authority of Advocate to adopt regulations. [Effective January 1, 2026.]

1. The Advocate shall:
(a) Respond to written and telephonic inquiries received from consumers and injured employees regarding concerns and problems related to health care and workers’ compensation;
(b) Assist consumers and injured employees in understanding their rights and responsibilities under health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, and policies of industrial insurance;
(c) Identify and investigate complaints of consumers and injured employees regarding their health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, and policies of industrial insurance and assist those consumers and injured employees to resolve their complaints, including, without limitation:
(1) Referring consumers and injured employees to the appropriate agency, department or other entity that is responsible for addressing the specific complaint of the consumer or injured employee; and
(2) Providing counseling and assistance to consumers and injured employees concerning health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, and policies of industrial insurance;
(d) Provide information to consumers and injured employees concerning health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, and policies of industrial insurance in this State;
(e) Establish and maintain a system to collect and maintain information pertaining to the written and telephonic inquiries received by the Office for Consumer Health Assistance;
(f) Take such actions as are necessary to ensure public awareness of the existence and purpose of the services provided by the Advocate pursuant to this section;
(g) In appropriate cases and pursuant to the direction of the Advocate, refer a complaint or the results of an investigation to the Attorney General for further action;
(h) Provide information to and applications for prescription drug programs for consumers without insurance coverage for prescription drugs or pharmaceutical services;
(i) Establish and maintain an Internet website which includes:
(1) Information concerning purchasing prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies that have been recommended by the State Board of Pharmacy for inclusion on the Internet website pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 639.2328;
(2) Links to websites of Canadian pharmacies which have been recommended by the State Board of Pharmacy for inclusion on the Internet website pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 639.2328; and
(3) A link to the website established and maintained pursuant to NRS 439A.270 which provides information to the general public concerning the charges imposed and the quality of the services provided by the hospitals and surgical centers for ambulatory patients in this State;
(j) Assist consumers with accessing a navigator, case manager or facilitator to help the consumer obtain health care services;
(k) Assist consumers with scheduling an appointment with a provider of health care who is in the network of providers under contract to provide services to participants in the health care plan under which the consumer is covered;
(l) Assist consumers with filing complaints against health care facilities and health care professionals;
(m) Assist consumers with filing complaints with the Commissioner of Insurance against issuers of health care plans; and
(n) On or before January 31 of each year, compile a report of aggregated information submitted to the Office for Consumer Health Assistance pursuant to NRS 687B.675, aggregated for each type of provider of health care for which such information is provided and submit the report to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to:
(1) In even-numbered years, the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Health and Human Services; and
(2) In odd-numbered years, the next regular session of the Legislature.
2. The Advocate may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section and NRS 232.461 and 232.462.
3. As used in this section:
(a) "Health care facility" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 162A.740.
(b) "Navigator, case manager or facilitator" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 687B.675.
(Added to NRS by 1999, 1806; A 2003, 1507; 2005, 22nd Special Session, 156; 2007, 2358, 2881; 2009, 559; 2011, 587, 973; 2013, 1614; 2019, 314)
1. The Advocate shall:
(a) Respond to written and telephonic inquiries received from consumers and injured employees regarding concerns and problems related to health care and workers’ compensation;
(b) Assist consumers and injured employees in understanding their rights and responsibilities under health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program and the Public Option, and policies of industrial insurance;
(c) Identify and investigate complaints of consumers and injured employees regarding their health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program and the Public Option, and policies of industrial insurance and assist those consumers and injured employees to resolve their complaints, including, without limitation:
(1) Referring consumers and injured employees to the appropriate agency, department or other entity that is responsible for addressing the specific complaint of the consumer or injured employee; and
(2) Providing counseling and assistance to consumers and injured employees concerning health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program and the Public Option, and policies of industrial insurance;
(d) Provide information to consumers and injured employees concerning health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program and the Public Option, and policies of industrial insurance in this State;
(e) Establish and maintain a system to collect and maintain information pertaining to the written and telephonic inquiries received by the Office for Consumer Health Assistance;
(f) Take such actions as are necessary to ensure public awareness of the existence and purpose of the services provided by the Advocate pursuant to this section;
(g) In appropriate cases and pursuant to the direction of the Advocate, refer a complaint or the results of an investigation to the Attorney General for further action;
(h) Provide information to and applications for prescription drug programs for consumers without insurance coverage for prescription drugs or pharmaceutical services;
(i) Establish and maintain an Internet website which includes:
(1) Information concerning purchasing prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies that have been recommended by the State Board of Pharmacy for inclusion on the Internet website pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 639.2328;
(2) Links to websites of Canadian pharmacies which have been recommended by the State Board of Pharmacy for inclusion on the Internet website pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 639.2328; and
(3) A link to the website established and maintained pursuant to NRS 439A.270 which provides information to the general public concerning the charges imposed and the quality of the services provided by the hospitals and surgical centers for ambulatory patients in this State;
(j) Assist consumers with accessing a navigator, case manager or facilitator to help the consumer obtain health care services;
(k) Assist consumers with scheduling an appointment with a provider of health care who is in the network of providers under contract to provide services to participants in the health care plan under which the consumer is covered;
(l) Assist consumers with filing complaints against health care facilities and health care professionals;
(m) Assist consumers with filing complaints with the Commissioner of Insurance against issuers of health care plans; and
(n) On or before January 31 of each year, compile a report of aggregated information submitted to the Office for Consumer Health Assistance pursuant to NRS 687B.675, aggregated for each type of provider of health care for which such information is provided and submit the report to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to:
(1) In even-numbered years, the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Health and Human Services; and
(2) In odd-numbered years, the next regular session of the Legislature.
2. The Advocate may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section and NRS 232.461 and 232.462.
3. As used in this section:
(a) "Health care facility" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 162A.740.
(b) "Navigator, case manager or facilitator" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 687B.675.
(c) "Public Option" means the Public Option established pursuant to NRS 695K.200.
(Added to NRS by 1999, 1806; A 2003, 1507; 2005, 22nd Special Session, 156; 2007, 2358, 2881; 2009, 559; 2011, 587, 973; 2013, 1614; 2019, 314; 2021, 3629, effective January 1, 2026)