Nevada Governor Signs ASC Inspection Bill Into Law

Nevada Assembly Bill 123, which requires yearly, unannounced inspections of ambulatory surgery centers, was signed into law, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Previously, Nevada surgery centers were subject to inspections once every three to six years, according to the report. A nurse will be required by the state health division to accompany all inspection teams specifically to observe infection control.

Three other healthcare bills were also passed in the session. Assembly Bill 10 "puts more teeth in legislative protections for medical whistle-blowers" and encourages more medical personnel to step forward when they observe questionable practices. Assembly Bills 112 and 206 look to bridge potential gaps in communication during a public health crisis and require the governor to determine if a public or health emergency needs a coordinated response by a team of state officials, according to the report.

The new healthcare legislation comes after a hepatitis C outbreak at a Nevada endoscopy clinic last year when it was found that nurses reusing syringes in a manner that contaminated vials of medication and, according to authorities, infected patients. Officials at the clinic said that the practice was a cost-saving measure.

Read the Review-Journal's report about the Nevada surgery center inspection law.