1. The Commission shall systematically review issues related to the health care needs of residents of this State and the quality, accessibility and affordability of health care, including, without limitation, prescription drugs, in this State. The review must include, without limitation:

(a) Comprehensively examining the system for regulating health care in this State, including, without limitation, the licensing and regulation of health care facilities and providers of health care and the role of professional licensing boards, commissions and other bodies established to regulate or evaluate policies related to health care.

(b) Identifying gaps and duplication in the roles of such boards, commissions and other bodies.

(c) Examining the cost of health care and the primary factors impacting those costs.

(d) Examining disparities in the quality and cost of health care between different groups, including, without limitation, minority groups and other distinct populations in this State.

(e) Reviewing the adequacy and types of providers of health care who participate in networks established by health carriers in this State and the geographic distribution of the providers of health care who participate in each such network.

(f) Reviewing the availability of health benefit plans, as defined in NRS 687B.470, in this State.

(g) Reviewing the effect of any changes to Medicaid, including, without limitation, the expansion of Medicaid pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148, on the cost and availability of health care and health insurance in this State.

(h) Reviewing proposed and enacted legislation, regulations and other changes to state and local policy related to health care in this State.

(i) Researching possible changes to state or local policy in this State that may improve the quality, accessibility or affordability of health care in this State, including, without limitation:

(1) The use of purchasing pools to decrease the cost of health care;

(2) Increasing transparency concerning the cost or provision of health care;

(3) Regulatory measures designed to increase the accessibility and the quality of health care, regardless of geographic location or ability to pay;

(4) Facilitating access to data concerning insurance claims for medical services to assist in the development of public policies;

(5) Resolving problems relating to the billing of patients for medical services;

(6) Leveraging the expenditure of money by the Medicaid program and reimbursement rates under Medicaid to increase the quality and accessibility of health care for low-income persons; and

(7) Increasing access to health care for uninsured populations in this State, including, without limitation, retirees and children.

(j) Monitoring and evaluating proposed and enacted federal legislation and regulations and other proposed and actual changes to federal health care policy to determine the impact of such changes on the cost of health care in this State.

(k) Evaluating the degree to which the role, structure and duties of the Commission facilitate the oversight of the provision of health care in this State by the Commission and allow the Commission to perform activities necessary to promote the health care needs of residents of this State.

(l) Making recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, the Department of Health and Human Services, local health authorities and any other person or governmental entity to increase the quality, accessibility and affordability of health care in this State, including, without limitation, recommendations concerning the items described in this subsection.

2. As used in this section:

(a) “Health carrier” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 687B.625.

(b) “Network” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 687B.640.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 2812)