Raul Arroyo

The Nevada State Board of Health convened a virtual meeting to discuss various agenda items. The primary focus was on the consideration and possible adoption of a proposed emergency regulation related to the state immunization information system, specifically Nevada Administrative Code 439.895. The regulation aimed to facilitate the sharing of vaccination status from WebIZ among executive branch agencies within the state, in response to Governor Sisolak's policy requiring weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated employees. Public comments were heard regarding the proposed regulation, with discussions on vaccine mandates, legal aspects, and potential implications for employees and students.

The Dietitian Advisory Group meeting addressed the use of the AO Scan Digital body analyzer for nutritional assessments. The discussion centered on whether using the AO Scan, either as a sole method or in conjunction with traditional assessment techniques, aligns with established standards of practice and legal requirements. Concerns were raised regarding the lack of evidence-based literature supporting the device's reliability and validity in determining nutritional needs and prescribing supplements. The group also considered ethical implications related to charging patients for a service without proven benefits.

The meeting addressed questions and concerns from the previous session, particularly regarding data collection, emphasizing that there is no set start date and the current focus is on engaging providers to develop a collection process. Clarification was provided on unplanned all-cause readmissions, with updates from Managed Care Quality Assurance (MC QA) indicating that draft billing guidelines were shared with MCOs, who agreed to transition providers accordingly. A list of web announcements related to provider type 93 was shared, and accomplishments in provider enrollment were highlighted. Questions from a prior authorization workshop were addressed, including those about unlicensed facilitators, clinical service hour requirements, and MCO authorization practices.

The special meeting of the Grants Management Advisory Committee focused on the tobacco Nofo. Public comments were heard, including a discussion on the chronic underfunding of tobacco prevention and control in Nevada and a request to explore funding additional tobacco prevention funds through the Nevada Clinical Services partnership. The committee also reviewed and approved recommendations for funding, including allocations to various health districts and partnerships for tobacco control efforts.

The meeting included a roll call to verify attendance and a welcome to Ashley Dyes from the Children's Cabinet. The agenda included a public comment period, a discussion of meeting expectations, and announcements of two new council members. The council discussed and made corrections to the minutes from the April 30th meeting, specifically addressing a date error and clarifying language regarding staff assistance for closing providers and the service agreement between aging and disability services and community providers. The council also discussed the frequency of meetings for 2025, considering meeting either four or six times a year, with a separate meeting in January to address the annual performance report.