State board finds rules on splitting a bitter pill

Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999 | 10:07 a.m.

The practice has caused some concern because patients must split their own pills, risking the chance that they may get a wrong dosage or shatter pills that don't have a groove cut in them.

Keith Macdonald, executive director of the board, told a legislative committee on health care Tuesday there was broad support for the rule, but the board realized it lacked authority over doctors and HMOs that back the practice.

The legislative committee said all facets of the medical industry should work together to come up to a solution.

Also at the meeting, Janice Wright, administrator of the state Division of Health Care Financing and Policy, said 7,284 children of working poor parents are now enrolled in the Nevada Checkup insurance program.

Wright added Nevada has a higher percentage of these children covered than many other states. But the Urban Institute estimates 17,000 children qualify for this low-cost insurance in Nevada.

Wright also said there's enough money budgeted to handle 11,750 children next fiscal year, and enrollments are below estimates in every state.

Under the program, parents pay a premium of $10 to $50 a quarter for HMO coverage of children.

Also Tuesday, a group of parents pleaded with the committee for more state services for their autistic children.

"Other states have come up with the funding. Our kids are dropping through the cracks," Michele Tombari of Las Vegas said.