1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, subsection 2 and NRS 439B.300, each county shall use the definition of “indigent” in NRS 439B.310 to determine a person’s eligibility for medical assistance pursuant to chapter 428 of NRS, other than assistance provided pursuant to NRS 428.115 to 428.255, inclusive.

2. A board of county commissioners may, if it determines that a hospital within the county is serving a disproportionately large share of low-income patients:

(a) Pay a higher rate to the hospital for treatment of indigent inpatients;

(b) Pay the hospital for treatment of indigent inpatients whom the hospital would otherwise be required to treat without receiving compensation from the county; or

(c) Both pay at a higher rate and pay for inpatients for whom the hospital would otherwise be uncompensated.

3. Each hospital which treats an indigent inpatient shall submit to the board of county commissioners of the county of residence of the patient a discharge form identifying the patient as a possible indigent and containing the information required by the Department and the county to be included in all such forms.

4. The county which receives a discharge form from a hospital for an indigent inpatient shall verify the status of the patient and the amount which the hospital is entitled to receive. A hospital aggrieved by a determination of a county regarding the indigent status of an inpatient may appeal the determination to the Director or a person designated by the Director to hear such an appeal. The decision of the Director or the designee of the Director must be mailed by registered or certified mail to the county and the hospital. The decision of the Director or the designee of the Director may be appealed to a court having general jurisdiction in the county within 15 days after the date of the postmark on the envelope in which the decision was mailed.

5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 of this section and subsection 3 of NRS 439B.320, if the county is the county of residence of the patient and the patient is indigent, the county shall pay to the hospital the amount required, within the limits of money which may lawfully be appropriated for this purpose pursuant to NRS 428.050, 428.285 and 450.425.

6. For the purposes of this section, the county of residence of the patient is the county of residence of that person before he or she was admitted to the hospital.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 869; A 1989, 1801, 1861; 1991, 1744, 1937; 1993, 1973; 2005, 1676)