Governor Joe Lombardo To Sign Senate Bill 221 Increasing Medical Reimbursements For Pediatric Cancer Patients on Medicaid

WHAT: Nearly ALL children in Nevada diagnosed with cancer and other catastrophic diseases receive treatment, attend doctors visits, undergo bloodwork and routine lab tests, and receive chemotherapy at an outpatient clinic – such as Cure 4 The Kids Foundation – not at a hospital.

However, outdated Medicaid reimbursement guidelines do not provide an appropriate billing category for pediatric cancer and rare disease clinic treatments provided at an outpatient clinic. Therefore, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation (C4K) and others have provided the treatments to Medicaid patients without question, but have done so with inadequate reimbursement from Medicaid. Those additional costs reduce the funds available for other important programs at C4K.

As a result, C4K, who treats the majority of Nevada’s pediatric cancer and rare disease patients has incurred a significant financial burden over the years due to these unreimbursed but essential medical services. 

The signing of SB 221 by Governor Joe Lombardo will correct this outdated billing model and establish billing guidelines and a new rate methodology for outpatient clinics which are consistent with prevailing best practices for reimbursing specialized outpatient clinics. The primary sponsors for SB 221 are Senator Fabian Doñate (D), Senator Jeff Stone (R), and Senator Carrie A. Buck (R).

WHEN: Monday, July 17, 2023

TIME: 2:30 P. M.

WHERE: Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E Washington Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101.