Compromise would put proposed health ombudsman in Cabinet

Art Nadler

Tuesday, May 25, 1999 | 11:21 a.m.

Gov. Kenny Guinn has decided to create a Cabinet position for a state health care ombudsman, ending a bottleneck caused by two separate bills.

The office, expected to become effective Oct. 1, will employ nine people, including the ombudsman, Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said. It will investigate and help consumers with their health care complaints.

Buckley was sponsoring Assembly Bill 310, which would have placed the office in the attorney general's office. Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, drafted a similar bill, Senate Bill 196, seeking to put it in the state Division of Insurance.

Insurance industry leaders didn't think either bill was needed. They said the insurance division already has the authority to investigate and aid consumers.

As the Legislature draws to a conclusion this week, Guinn said he felt the position would best be handled as a high-level Cabinet position.

"The governor is excited about this," Jack Finn, Guinn's press secretary, said. "He thinks it's a great way to facilitate getting answers to patients' questions."

Buckley also thinks making the ombudsman's office a Cabinet position is a "good compromise." She said the ombudsman will now have the option to either have the insurance commissioner investigate insurance providers or ask the attorney general's office to prosecute.

The Cabinet position is being presented as an amendment to Senate Bill 37, which allows for privatizing the Nevada workers' compensation system.

Cynthia Bunch, spokeswoman for the Nevada Health Care Reform Project, a nonprofit grass-roots group, said the organization is thrilled that the state has created an ombudsman office to help consumers.

"Many consumers have no one to turn to when they are experiencing problems with health care coverage," Bunch said. "They need assistance and navigating through new health care systems. We feel the position will fill a great need in this community."