Legislators to hold hearing in Las Vegas to address Hep C health scare

MEDIA ADVISORY
February 19, 2009

Legislators to hold hearing in Las Vegas to address Hep C health scare
Package of bills aimed to increase safety requirements, prevent future outbreaks

Legislators will hold a special hearing in Las Vegas Saturday to allow for testimony by those most affected by the 2008 Hepatitis C outbreak in Southern Nevada.  

A joint meeting of the Assembly Health and Human Services and Senate Health and Education Committees will discuss a package of bills designed to increase safety requirements and prevent future Hepatitis C outbreaks.

Responding to the Hepatitis C scare that infected at least six patients and required 40,000 more to be tested, legislators will20hear from doctors, nurses, health care experts and patients Saturday about how to prevent a similar health scare from happening again.

Nevadans are invited to attend and testify at the hearing.

The proposed package of legislation includes:

•    AB 10 – Prohibits discrimination against nurses who blow the whistle on unsafe medical practices

•    AB 123 – Requires physicians to acquire a permit and national accreditation before administering anesthesia at surgery centers

•    SB 70 –  Requires annual inspections of surgical centers, including unannounced inspections by the Health Division.

Legislators also will hear testimony on legislation to better regulate laser eye surgeries in Nevada (AB 196).

WHO/WHAT: Joint Health Committee hears package of Hep C bills. The public is invited to attend the hearing.

WHEN: 8 a.m., Saturday, February 21 (note: the hearing is expected to last until noon)

WHERE: Room 4401, Grant Sawyer Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Las Vegas

For more information:
Assemblywoman Debbie Smith  (775) 233-2905
Alisa Nave, Nevada Senate Democrats, (702) 525-1245