Nevada 2023 2023 Regular Session

Nevada Senate Bill SB163 Amended / Bill

                     	EXEMPT 
 (Reprinted with amendments adopted on June 2, 2023) 
 	SECOND REPRINT S.B. 163 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 
SENATE BILL NO. 163–SENATORS SCHEIBLE, D. HARRIS AND 
SPEARMAN 
 
FEBRUARY 15, 2023 
____________ 
 
JOINT SPONSOR: ASSEMBLYWOMAN GONZÁLEZ 
____________ 
 
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor 
 
SUMMARY—Requires certain health insurance to cover treatment 
of certain conditions relating to gender dysphoria 
and gender incongruence. (BDR 57-129) 
 
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact. 
 Effect on the State: Yes. 
 
CONTAINS UNFUNDED MANDATE (§§ 13, 14) 
(NOT REQUESTED BY AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT) 
 
~ 
 
EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. 
 
 
AN ACT relating to insurance; requiring certain health insurance to 
include coverage for the treatment of conditions relating 
to gender dysphoria and gender incongruence; prohibiting 
such insurers from engaging in certain discrimination on 
the basis of gender identity or expression; making 
appropriations and authorizing certain expenditures; and 
providing other matters properly relating thereto. 
Legislative Counsel’s Digest: 
 Existing law requires public and private policies of health insurance regulated 1 
under Nevada law to include certain coverage. (NRS 287.010, 287.04335, 2 
422.2712-422.27241, 689A.04033-689A.0465, 689B.0303-689B.0379, 689C.1655-3 
689C.169, 689C.194, 689C.1945, 689C.195, 695A.184-695A.1875, 695B.1901-4 
695B.1948, 695C.1691-695C.176, 695G.162-695G.177) Existing law also requires 5 
employers to provide certain benefits for health care to employees, including the 6 
coverage required of health insurers, if the employer provides health benefits for its 7 
employees. (NRS 608.1555) Sections 1.3, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14 and 15 of this 8 
bill: (1) require certain public and private policies of health insurance and health 9 
care plans, including Medicaid, to cover the treatment of conditions relating to 10 
gender dysphoria and gender incongruence; (2) authorize those policies and plans 11 
to prescribe requirements that must be satisfied before the insurer will cover 12 
surgical treatment for conditions relating to gender dysphoria or gender 13   
 	– 2 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
incongruence for persons who are less than 18 years of age; and (3) require an 14 
insurer to consult with a provider of health care with experience in prescribing or 15 
delivering gender-affirming treatment when considering certain appeals of a denial 16 
of coverage. Sections 1.6, 3.6, 4.6, 6.6, 7.6, 8.6, 11.6 and 15.6 of this bill prohibit 17 
an insurer from engaging in certain discrimination on the basis of gender identity or 18 
expression. Sections 2, 5, 9 and 12 of this bill make conforming changes to 19 
indicate the proper placement of sections 1.3, 1.6, 4, 4.6, 8, 8.6, 15 and 15.6 in the 20 
Nevada Revised Statutes.  21 
 Section 10 of this bill authorizes the Commissioner of Insurance to suspend or 22 
revoke the certificate of a health maintenance organization that fails to comply with 23 
the requirements of sections 8 and 8.6. The Commissioner would also be 24 
authorized to take such action against other health insurers who fail to comply with 25 
the requirements of sections 1.3, 1.6, 3, 3.6, 4, 4.6, 6, 6.6, 7, 7.6, 11 and 11.6. 26 
(NRS 680A.200) Sections 16 and 17 of this bill make appropriations to the 27 
Division of Health Care Financing and Policy of the Department of Health and 28 
Human Services and authorize certain related expenditures for: (1) the costs of 29 
providing the coverage under Medicaid required by section 15; and (2) certain 30 
other costs associated with carrying out the provisions of this bill. 31 
 
 
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN 
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 
 
 Section 1.  Chapter 689A of NRS is hereby amended by 1 
adding thereto the provisions set forth as sections 1.3 and 1.6 of this 2 
act. 3 
 Sec. 1.3.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, an 4 
insurer that issues a policy of health insurance shall include in the 5 
policy coverage for the medically necessary treatment of 6 
conditions relating to gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. 7 
Such coverage must include coverage of medically necessary 8 
psychosocial and surgical intervention and any other medically 9 
necessary treatment for such disorders provided by: 10 
 (a) Endocrinologists; 11 
 (b) Pediatric endocrinologists; 12 
 (c) Social workers; 13 
 (d) Psychiatrists; 14 
 (e) Psychologists; 15 
 (f) Gynecologists; 16 
 (g) Speech-language pathologists; 17 
 (h) Primary care physicians; 18 
 (i) Advanced practice registered nurses; 19 
 (j) Physician assistants; and 20 
 (k) Any other providers of medically necessary services for the 21 
treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.  22 
 2.  This section does not require a policy of health insurance 23 
to include coverage for cosmetic surgery performed by a plastic 24 
surgeon or reconstructive surgeon that is not medically necessary. 25   
 	– 3 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 3.  An insurer that issues a policy of health insurance shall 1 
not categorically refuse to cover medically necessary gender-2 
affirming treatments or procedures or revisions to prior treatments 3 
if the policy provides coverage for any such services, procedures 4 
or revisions for purposes other than gender transition or 5 
affirmation. 6 
 4. An insurer that issues a policy of health insurance may 7 
prescribe requirements that must be satisfied before the insurer 8 
covers surgical treatment of conditions relating to gender 9 
dysphoria or gender incongruence for an insured who is less than 10 
18 years of age. Such requirements may include, without 11 
limitation, requirements that:  12 
 (a) The treatment must be recommended by a psychologist, 13 
psychiatrist or other mental health professional; 14 
 (b) The treatment must be recommended by a physician; 15 
 (c) The insured must provide a written expression of the desire 16 
of the insured to undergo the treatment;  17 
 (d) A written plan for treatment that covers at least 1 year must 18 
be developed and approved by at least two providers of health 19 
care; and 20 
 (e) Parental consent is provided for the insured unless the 21 
insured is expressly authorized by law to consent on his or her 22 
own behalf. 23 
 5.  When determining whether treatment is medically 24 
necessary for the purposes of this section, an insurer must 25 
consider the most recent Standards of Care published by the 26 
World Professional Association for Transgender Health, or its 27 
successor organization. 28 
 6. An insurer shall make a reasonable effort to ensure that 29 
the benefits required by subsection 1 are made available to an 30 
insured through a provider of health care who participates in the 31 
network plan of the insurer. If, after a reasonable effort, the 32 
insurer is unable to make such benefits available through such a 33 
provider of health care, the insurer may treat the treatment that 34 
the insurer is unable to make available through such a provider of 35 
health care in the same manner as other services provided by a 36 
provider of health care who does not participate in the network 37 
plan of the insurer.  38 
 7. If an insured appeals the denial of a claim or coverage 39 
under this section on the grounds that the treatment requested by 40 
the insured is not medically necessary, the insurer must consult 41 
with a provider of health care who has experience in prescribing 42 
or delivering gender-affirming treatment concerning the medical 43 
necessity of the treatment requested by the insured when 44 
considering the appeal. 45   
 	– 4 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 8.  A policy of health insurance subject to the provisions of 1 
this chapter that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on or 2 
after July 1, 2023, has the legal effect of including the coverage 3 
required by subsection 1, and any provision of the policy or the 4 
renewal which is in conflict with this section is void.  5 
 9.  As used in this section:  6 
 (a) “Cosmetic surgery”: 7 
  (1) Means a surgical procedure that: 8 
   (I) Does not meaningfully promote the proper function 9 
of the body; 10 
   (II) Does not prevent or treat illness or disease; and 11 
   (III) Is primarily directed at improving the appearance 12 
of a person. 13 
  (2) Includes, without limitation, cosmetic surgery directed 14 
at preserving beauty. 15 
 (b) “Gender dysphoria” means distress or impairment in 16 
social, occupational or other areas of functioning caused by a 17 
marked difference between the gender identity or expression of a 18 
person and the sex assigned to the person at birth which lasts at 19 
least 6 months and is shown by at least two of the following:  20 
  (1) A marked difference between gender identity or 21 
expression and primary or secondary sex characteristics or 22 
anticipated secondary sex characteristics in young adolescents.  23 
  (2) A strong desire to be rid of primary or secondary sex 24 
characteristics because of a marked difference between such sex 25 
characteristics and gender identity or expression or a desire to 26 
prevent the development of anticipated secondary sex 27 
characteristics in young adolescents.  28 
  (3) A strong desire for the primary or secondary sex 29 
characteristics of the gender opposite from the sex assigned at 30 
birth. 31 
  (4) A strong desire to be of the opposite gender or a gender 32 
different from the sex assigned at birth. 33 
  (5) A strong desire to be treated as the opposite gender or a 34 
gender different from the sex assigned at birth. 35 
  (6) A strong conviction of experiencing typical feelings and 36 
reactions of the opposite gender or a gender different from the sex 37 
assigned at birth. 38 
 (c) “Medically necessary” means health care services or 39 
products that a prudent provider of health care would provide to a 40 
patient to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease, or 41 
any symptoms thereof, that are necessary and: 42 
  (1) Provided in accordance with generally accepted 43 
standards of medical practice; 44   
 	– 5 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
  (2) Clinically appropriate with regard to type, frequency, 1 
extent, location and duration; 2 
  (3) Not provided primarily for the convenience of the 3 
patient or provider of health care; 4 
  (4) Required to improve a specific health condition of a 5 
patient or to preserve the existing state of health of the patient; 6 
and 7 
  (5) The most clinically appropriate level of health care that 8 
may be safely provided to the patient. 9 
 A provider of health care prescribing, ordering, recommending 10 
or approving a health care service or product does not, by itself, 11 
make that health care service or product medically necessary.  12 
 (d) “Network plan” means a policy of health insurance offered 13 
by an insurer under which the financing and delivery of medical 14 
care, including items and services paid for as medical care, are 15 
provided, in whole or in part, through a defined set of providers 16 
under contract with the insurer. The term does not include an 17 
arrangement for the financing of premiums.  18 
 (e) “Provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 19 
NRS 629.031.  20 
 Sec. 1.6.  An insurer that issues a policy of health insurance 21 
shall not discriminate against any person with respect to 22 
participation or coverage under the policy on the basis of actual or 23 
perceived gender identity or expression. Prohibited discrimination 24 
includes, without limitation: 25 
 1. Denying, cancelling, limiting or refusing to issue or renew 26 
a policy of health insurance on the basis of the actual or perceived 27 
gender identity or expression of a person or a family member of 28 
the person; 29 
 2. Imposing a payment or premium that is based on the 30 
actual or perceived gender identity or expression of an insured or 31 
a family member of the insured; 32 
 3. Designating the actual or perceived gender identity or 33 
expression of a person or a family member of the person as 34 
grounds to deny, cancel or limit participation or coverage; and 35 
 4. Denying, cancelling or limiting participation or coverage 36 
on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or expression, 37 
including, without limitation, by limiting or denying coverage for 38 
health care services that are: 39 
 (a) Related to gender transition, provided that there is 40 
coverage under the policy for the services when the services are 41 
not related to gender transition; or 42 
 (b) Ordinarily or exclusively available to persons of any sex. 43   
 	– 6 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 Sec. 2.  NRS 689A.330 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 
 689A.330 If any policy is issued by a domestic insurer for 2 
delivery to a person residing in another state, and if the insurance 3 
commissioner or corresponding public officer of that other state has 4 
informed the Commissioner that the policy is not subject to approval 5 
or disapproval by that officer, the Commissioner may by ruling 6 
require that the policy meet the standards set forth in NRS 689A.030 7 
to 689A.320, inclusive [.] , and sections 1.3 and 1.6 of this act. 8 
 Sec. 2.8.  Chapter 689B of NRS is hereby amended by adding 9 
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 3 and 3.6 of this act. 10 
 Sec. 3.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, an 11 
insurer that issues a policy of group health insurance shall 12 
include in the policy coverage for the medically necessary 13 
treatment of conditions relating to gender dysphoria and gender 14 
incongruence. Such coverage must include coverage of medically 15 
necessary psychosocial and surgical intervention and any other 16 
medically necessary treatment for such disorders provided by: 17 
 (a) Endocrinologists; 18 
 (b) Pediatric endocrinologists; 19 
 (c) Social workers; 20 
 (d) Psychiatrists; 21 
 (e) Psychologists; 22 
 (f) Gynecologists; 23 
 (g) Speech-language pathologists; 24 
 (h) Primary care physicians; 25 
 (i) Advanced practice registered nurses; 26 
 (j) Physician assistants; and 27 
 (k) Any other providers of medically necessary services for the 28 
treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.  29 
 2.  This section does not require a policy of group health 30 
insurance to include coverage for cosmetic surgery performed by a 31 
plastic surgeon or reconstructive surgeon that is not medically 32 
necessary. 33 
 3. An insurer that issues a policy of group health insurance 34 
shall not categorically refuse to cover medically necessary gender-35 
affirming treatments or procedures or revisions to prior treatments 36 
if the policy provides coverage for any such services, procedures 37 
or revisions for purposes other than gender transition or 38 
affirmation. 39 
 4. An insurer that issues a policy of group health insurance 40 
may prescribe requirements that must be satisfied before the 41 
insurer covers surgical treatment of conditions relating to gender 42 
dysphoria or gender incongruence for an insured who is less than 43 
18 years of age. Such requirements may include, without 44 
limitation, requirements that:  45   
 	– 7 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 (a) The treatment must be recommended by a psychologist, 1 
psychiatrist or other mental health professional;  2 
 (b) The treatment must be recommended by a physician;  3 
 (c) The insured must provide a written expression of the desire 4 
of the insured to undergo the treatment;  5 
 (d) A written plan for treatment that covers at least 1 year must 6 
be developed and approved by at least two providers of health 7 
care; and 8 
 (e) Parental consent is provided for the insured unless the 9 
insured is expressly authorized by law to consent on his or her 10 
own behalf. 11 
 5.  When determining whether treatment is medically 12 
necessary for the purposes of this section, an insurer must 13 
consider the most recent Standards of Care published by the 14 
World Professional Association for Transgender Health, or its 15 
successor organization. 16 
 6. An insurer shall make a reasonable effort to ensure that 17 
the benefits required by subsection 1 are made available to an 18 
insured through a provider of health care who participates in the 19 
network plan of the insurer. If, after a reasonable effort, the 20 
insurer is unable to make such benefits available through such a 21 
provider of health care, the insurer may treat the treatment that 22 
the insurer is unable to make available through such a provider of 23 
health care in the same manner as other services provided by a 24 
provider of health care who does not participate in the network 25 
plan of the insurer.  26 
 7. If an insured appeals the denial of a claim or coverage 27 
under this section on the grounds that the treatment requested by 28 
the insured is not medically necessary, the insurer must consult 29 
with a provider of health care who has experience in prescribing 30 
or delivering gender-affirming treatment concerning the medical 31 
necessity of the treatment requested by the insured when 32 
considering the appeal. 33 
 8.  A policy of group health insurance subject to the 34 
provisions of this chapter that is delivered, issued for delivery or 35 
renewed on or after July 1, 2023, has the legal effect of including 36 
the coverage required by subsection 1, and any provision of the 37 
policy or renewal which is in conflict with the provisions of this 38 
section is void.  39 
 9.  As used in this section:  40 
 (a) “Cosmetic surgery”: 41 
  (1) Means a surgical procedure that: 42 
   (I) Does not meaningfully promote the proper function 43 
of the body; 44 
   (II) Does not prevent or treat illness or disease; and 45   
 	– 8 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
   (III) Is primarily directed at improving the appearance 1 
of a person. 2 
  (2) Includes, without limitation, cosmetic surgery directed 3 
at preserving beauty. 4 
 (b) “Gender dysphoria” means distress or impairment in 5 
social, occupational or other areas of functioning caused by a 6 
marked difference between the gender identity or expression of a 7 
person and the sex assigned to the person at birth which lasts at 8 
least 6 months and is shown by at least two of the following:  9 
  (1) A marked difference between gender identity or 10 
expression and primary or secondary sex characteristics or 11 
anticipated secondary sex characteristics in young adolescents.  12 
  (2) A strong desire to be rid of primary or secondary sex 13 
characteristics because of a marked difference between such sex 14 
characteristics and gender identity or expression or a desire to 15 
prevent the development of anticipated secondary sex 16 
characteristics in young adolescents.  17 
  (3) A strong desire for the primary or secondary sex 18 
characteristics of the gender opposite from the sex assigned at 19 
birth. 20 
  (4) A strong desire to be of the opposite gender or a gender 21 
different from the sex assigned at birth. 22 
  (5) A strong desire to be treated as the opposite gender or a 23 
gender different from the sex assigned at birth. 24 
  (6) A strong conviction of experiencing typical feelings and 25 
reactions of the opposite gender or a gender different from the sex 26 
assigned at birth. 27 
 (c) “Medically necessary” means health care services or 28 
products that a prudent provider of health care would provide to a 29 
patient to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease, or 30 
any symptoms thereof, that are necessary and: 31 
  (1) Provided in accordance with generally accepted 32 
standards of medical practice; 33 
  (2) Clinically appropriate with regard to type, frequency, 34 
extent, location and duration; 35 
  (3) Not provided primarily for the convenience of the 36 
patient or provider of health care; 37 
  (4) Required to improve a specific health condition of a 38 
patient or to preserve the existing state of health of the patient; 39 
and 40 
  (5) The most clinically appropriate level of health care that 41 
may be safely provided to the patient. 42 
 A provider of health care prescribing, ordering, recommending 43 
or approving a health care service or product does not, by itself, 44 
make that health care service or product medically necessary.  45   
 	– 9 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 (d) “Network plan” means a policy of group health insurance 1 
offered by an insurer under which the financing and delivery of 2 
medical care, including items and services paid for as medical 3 
care, are provided, in whole or in part, through a defined set of 4 
providers under contract with the insurer. The term does not 5 
include an arrangement for the financing of premiums.  6 
 (e) “Provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 7 
NRS 629.031.  8 
 Sec. 3.6.  An insurer that issues a policy of group health 9 
insurance shall not discriminate against any person with respect 10 
to participation or coverage under the policy on the basis of actual 11 
or perceived gender identity or expression. Prohibited 12 
discrimination includes, without limitation: 13 
 1. Denying, cancelling, limiting or refusing to issue or renew 14 
a policy of group health insurance on the basis of the actual or 15 
perceived gender identity or expression of a person or a family 16 
member of the person; 17 
 2. Imposing a payment or premium that is based on the 18 
actual or perceived gender identity or expression of an insured or 19 
a family member of the insured; 20 
 3. Designating the actual or perceived gender identity or 21 
expression of a person or a family member of the person as 22 
grounds to deny, cancel or limit participation or coverage; and 23 
 4. Denying, cancelling or limiting participation or coverage 24 
on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or expression, 25 
including, without limitation, by limiting or denying coverage for 26 
health care services that are: 27 
 (a) Related to gender transition, provided that there is 28 
coverage under the policy for the services when the services are 29 
not related to gender transition; or 30 
 (b) Ordinarily or exclusively available to persons of any sex. 31 
 Sec. 3.8.  Chapter 689C of NRS is hereby amended by adding 32 
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 4 and 4.6 of this act. 33 
 Sec. 4.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 34 
carrier that issues a health benefit plan shall include in the health 35 
benefit plan coverage for the medically necessary treatment of 36 
conditions relating to gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. 37 
Such coverage must include coverage of medically necessary 38 
psychosocial and surgical intervention and any other medically 39 
necessary treatment for such disorders provided by: 40 
 (a) Endocrinologists; 41 
 (b) Pediatric endocrinologists; 42 
 (c) Social workers; 43 
 (d) Psychiatrists; 44 
 (e) Psychologists; 45   
 	– 10 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 (f) Gynecologists; 1 
 (g) Speech-language pathologists; 2 
 (h) Primary care physicians; 3 
 (i) Advanced practice registered nurses; 4 
 (j) Physician assistants; and 5 
 (k) Any other providers of medically necessary services for the 6 
treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.  7 
 2.  This section does not require a health benefit plan to 8 
include coverage for cosmetic surgery performed by a plastic 9 
surgeon or reconstructive surgeon that is not medically necessary. 10 
 3. A carrier that issues a health benefit plan shall not 11 
categorically refuse to cover medically necessary gender-affirming 12 
treatments or procedures or revisions to prior treatments if the 13 
plan provides coverage for any such services, procedures or 14 
revisions for purposes other than gender transition or affirmation. 15 
 4. A carrier that issues a health benefit plan may prescribe 16 
requirements that must be satisfied before the carrier covers 17 
surgical treatment of conditions relating to gender dysphoria or 18 
gender incongruence for an insured who is less than 18 years of 19 
age. Such requirements may include, without limitation, 20 
requirements that:  21 
 (a) The treatment must be recommended by a psychologist, 22 
psychiatrist or other mental health professional;  23 
 (b) The treatment must be recommended by a physician;  24 
 (c) The insured must provide a written expression of the desire 25 
of the insured to undergo the treatment;  26 
 (d) A written plan for treatment that covers at least 1 year must 27 
be developed and approved by at least two providers of health 28 
care; and 29 
 (e) Parental consent is provided for the insured unless the 30 
insured is expressly authorized by law to consent on his or her 31 
own behalf. 32 
 5.  When determining whether treatment is medically 33 
necessary for the purposes of this section, a carrier must consider 34 
the most recent Standards of Care published by the World 35 
Professional Association for Transgender Health, or its successor 36 
organization. 37 
 6. A carrier shall make a reasonable effort to ensure that the 38 
benefits required by subsection 1 are made available to an insured 39 
through a provider of health care who participates in the network 40 
plan of the carrier. If, after a reasonable effort, the carrier is 41 
unable to make such benefits available through such a provider of 42 
health care, the carrier may treat the treatment that the carrier is 43 
unable to make available through such a provider of health care 44 
in the same manner as other services provided by a provider of 45   
 	– 11 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
health care who does not participate in the network plan of the 1 
carrier.  2 
 7. If an insured appeals the denial of a claim or coverage 3 
under this section on the grounds that the treatment requested by 4 
the insured is not medically necessary, the carrier must consult 5 
with a provider of health care who has experience in prescribing 6 
or delivering gender-affirming treatment concerning the medical 7 
necessity of the treatment requested by the insured when 8 
considering the appeal 9 
 8.  A health benefit plan subject to the provisions of this 10 
chapter that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on or after 11 
July 1, 2023, has the legal effect of including the coverage 12 
required by subsection 1, and any provision of the plan or renewal 13 
which is in conflict with the provisions of this section is void.  14 
 9.  As used in this section:  15 
 (a) “Cosmetic surgery”: 16 
  (1) Means a surgical procedure that: 17 
   (I) Does not meaningfully promote the proper function 18 
of the body; 19 
   (II) Does not prevent or treat illness or disease; and 20 
   (III) Is primarily directed at improving the appearance 21 
of a person. 22 
  (2) Includes, without limitation, cosmetic surgery directed 23 
at preserving beauty. 24 
 (b) “Gender dysphoria” means distress or impairment in 25 
social, occupational or other areas of functioning caused by a 26 
marked difference between the gender identity or expression of a 27 
person and the sex assigned to the person at birth which lasts at 28 
least 6 months and is shown by at least two of the following:  29 
  (1) A marked difference between gender identity or 30 
expression and primary or secondary sex characteristics or 31 
anticipated secondary sex characteristics in young adolescents.  32 
  (2) A strong desire to be rid of primary or secondary sex 33 
characteristics because of a marked difference between such sex 34 
characteristics and gender identity or expression or a desire to 35 
prevent the development of anticipated secondary sex 36 
characteristics in young adolescents.  37 
  (3) A strong desire for the primary or secondary sex 38 
characteristics of the gender opposite from the sex assigned at 39 
birth. 40 
  (4) A strong desire to be of the opposite gender or a gender 41 
different from the sex assigned at birth. 42 
  (5) A strong desire to be treated as the opposite gender or a 43 
gender different from the sex assigned at birth. 44   
 	– 12 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
  (6) A strong conviction of experiencing typical feelings and 1 
reactions of the opposite gender or a gender different from the sex 2 
assigned at birth. 3 
 (c) “Medically necessary” means health care services or 4 
products that a prudent provider of health care would provide to a 5 
patient to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease, or 6 
any symptoms thereof, that are necessary and: 7 
  (1) Provided in accordance with generally accepted 8 
standards of medical practice; 9 
  (2) Clinically appropriate with regard to type, frequency, 10 
extent, location and duration; 11 
  (3) Not provided primarily for the convenience of the 12 
patient or provider of health care; 13 
  (4) Required to improve a specific health condition of a 14 
patient or to preserve the existing state of health of the patient; 15 
and 16 
  (5) The most clinically appropriate level of health care that 17 
may be safely provided to the patient. 18 
 A provider of health care prescribing, ordering, recommending 19 
or approving a health care service or product does not, by itself, 20 
make that health care service or product medically necessary.  21 
 (d) “Network plan” means a health benefit plan offered by a 22 
carrier under which the financing and delivery of medical care, 23 
including items and services paid for as medical care, are 24 
provided, in whole or in part, through a defined set of providers 25 
under contract with the carrier. The term does not include an 26 
arrangement for the financing of premiums.  27 
 (e) “Provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 28 
NRS 629.031.  29 
 Sec. 4.6.  A carrier that issues a health benefit plan shall not 30 
discriminate against any person with respect to participation or 31 
coverage under the plan on the basis of actual or perceived gender 32 
identity or expression. Prohibited discrimination includes, without 33 
limitation: 34 
 1. Denying, cancelling, limiting or refusing to issue or renew 35 
a health benefit plan on the basis of the actual or perceived gender 36 
identity or expression of a person or a family member of the 37 
person; 38 
 2. Imposing a payment or premium that is based on the 39 
actual or perceived gender identity or expression of an insured or 40 
a family member of the insured; 41 
 3. Designating the actual or perceived gender identity or 42 
expression of a person or a family member of the person as 43 
grounds to deny, cancel or limit participation or coverage; and 44   
 	– 13 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 4. Denying, cancelling or limiting participation or coverage 1 
on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or expression, 2 
including, without limitation, by limiting or denying coverage for 3 
health care services that are: 4 
 (a) Related to gender transition, provided that there is 5 
coverage under the plan for the services when the services are not 6 
related to gender transition; or 7 
 (b) Ordinarily or exclusively available to persons of any sex. 8 
 Sec. 5.  NRS 689C.425 is hereby amended to read as follows: 9 
 689C.425 A voluntary purchasing group and any contract 10 
issued to such a group pursuant to NRS 689C.360 to 689C.600, 11 
inclusive, are subject to the provisions of NRS 689C.015 to 12 
689C.355, inclusive, and sections 4 and 4.6 of this act, to the extent 13 
applicable and not in conflict with the express provisions of NRS 14 
687B.408 and 689C.360 to 689C.600, inclusive. 15 
 Sec. 5.8.  Chapter 695A of NRS is hereby amended by adding 16 
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 6 and 6.6 of this act. 17 
 Sec. 6.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 18 
society that issues a benefit contract shall include in the benefit 19 
contract coverage for the medically necessary treatment of 20 
conditions relating to gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. 21 
Such coverage must include coverage of medically necessary 22 
psychosocial and surgical intervention and any other medically 23 
necessary treatment for such disorders provided by: 24 
 (a) Endocrinologists; 25 
 (b) Pediatric endocrinologists; 26 
 (c) Social workers; 27 
 (d) Psychiatrists; 28 
 (e) Psychologists; 29 
 (f) Gynecologists; 30 
 (g) Speech-language pathologists; 31 
 (h) Primary care physicians; 32 
 (i) Advanced practice registered nurses; 33 
 (j) Physician assistants; and 34 
 (k) Any other providers of medically necessary services for the 35 
treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.  36 
 2.  This section does not require a benefit contract to include 37 
coverage for cosmetic surgery performed by a plastic surgeon or 38 
reconstructive surgeon that is not medically necessary. 39 
 3. A society that issues a benefit contract shall not 40 
categorically refuse to cover medically necessary gender-affirming 41 
treatments or procedures or revisions to prior treatments if the 42 
contract provides coverage for any such services, procedures or 43 
revisions for purposes other than gender transition or affirmation. 44   
 	– 14 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 4. A society that issues a benefit contract may prescribe 1 
requirements that must be satisfied before the society covers 2 
surgical treatment of conditions relating to gender dysphoria or 3 
gender incongruence for an insured who is less than 18 years of 4 
age. Such requirements may include, without limitation, 5 
requirements that:  6 
 (a) The treatment must be recommended by a psychologist, 7 
psychiatrist or other mental health professional;  8 
 (b) The treatment must be recommended by a physician;  9 
 (c) The insured must provide a written expression of the desire 10 
of the insured to undergo the treatment;  11 
 (d) A written plan for treatment that covers at least 1 year must 12 
be developed and approved by at least two providers of health 13 
care; and 14 
 (e) Parental consent is provided for the insured unless the 15 
insured is expressly authorized by law to consent on his or her 16 
own behalf. 17 
 5.  When determining whether treatment is medically 18 
necessary for the purposes of this section, a society must consider 19 
the most recent Standards of Care published by the World 20 
Professional Association for Transgender Health, or its successor 21 
organization. 22 
 6. A society shall make a reasonable effort to ensure that the 23 
benefits required by subsection 1 are made available to an insured 24 
through a provider of health care who participates in the network 25 
plan of the society. If, after a reasonable effort, the society is 26 
unable to make such benefits available through such a provider of 27 
health care, the society may treat the treatment that the society is 28 
unable to make available through such a provider of health care 29 
in the same manner as other services provided by a provider of 30 
health care who does not participate in the network plan of the 31 
society. 32 
 7. If an insured appeals the denial of a claim or coverage 33 
under this section on the grounds that the treatment requested by 34 
the insured is not medically necessary, the society must consult 35 
with a provider of health care who has experience in prescribing 36 
or delivering gender-affirming treatment concerning the medical 37 
necessity of the treatment requested by the insured when 38 
considering the appeal. 39 
 8.  A benefit contract subject to the provisions of this chapter 40 
that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on or after July 1, 41 
2023, has the legal effect of including the coverage required by 42 
subsection 1, and any provision of the benefit contract or renewal 43 
which is in conflict with the provisions of this section is void.  44 
 9.  As used in this section:  45   
 	– 15 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 (a) “Cosmetic surgery”: 1 
  (1) Means a surgical procedure that: 2 
   (I) Does not meaningfully promote the proper function 3 
of the body; 4 
   (II) Does not prevent or treat illness or disease; and 5 
   (III) Is primarily directed at improving the appearance 6 
of a person. 7 
  (2) Includes, without limitation, cosmetic surgery directed 8 
at preserving beauty. 9 
 (b) “Gender dysphoria” means distress or impairment in 10 
social, occupational or other areas of functioning caused by a 11 
marked difference between the gender identity or expression of a 12 
person and the sex assigned to the person at birth which lasts at 13 
least 6 months and is shown by at least two of the following: 14 
  (1) A marked difference between gender identity or 15 
expression and primary or secondary sex characteristics or 16 
anticipated secondary sex characteristics in young adolescents.  17 
  (2) A strong desire to be rid of primary or secondary sex 18 
characteristics because of a marked difference between such sex 19 
characteristics and gender identity or expression or a desire to 20 
prevent the development of anticipated secondary sex 21 
characteristics in young adolescents.  22 
  (3) A strong desire for the primary or secondary sex 23 
characteristics of the gender opposite from the sex assigned at 24 
birth. 25 
  (4) A strong desire to be of the opposite gender or a gender 26 
different from the sex assigned at birth. 27 
  (5) A strong desire to be treated as the opposite gender or a 28 
gender different from the sex assigned at birth. 29 
  (6) A strong conviction of experiencing typical feelings and 30 
reactions of the opposite gender or a gender different from the sex 31 
assigned at birth. 32 
 (c) “Medically necessary” means health care services or 33 
products that a prudent provider of health care would provide to a 34 
patient to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease, or 35 
any symptoms thereof, that are necessary and: 36 
  (1) Provided in accordance with generally accepted 37 
standards of medical practice; 38 
  (2) Clinically appropriate with regard to type, frequency, 39 
extent, location and duration; 40 
  (3) Not provided primarily for the convenience of the 41 
patient or provider of health care; 42 
  (4) Required to improve a specific health condition of a 43 
patient or to preserve the existing state of health of the patient; 44 
and 45   
 	– 16 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
  (5) The most clinically appropriate level of health care that 1 
may be safely provided to the patient. 2 
 A provider of health care prescribing, ordering, recommending 3 
or approving a health care service or product does not, by itself, 4 
make that health care service or product medically necessary.  5 
 (d) “Network plan” means a benefit contract offered by a 6 
society under which the financing and delivery of medical care, 7 
including items and services paid for as medical care, are 8 
provided, in whole or in part, through a defined set of providers 9 
under contract with the society. The term does not include an 10 
arrangement for the financing of premiums.  11 
 (e) “Provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 12 
NRS 629.031.  13 
 Sec. 6.6.  A society that issues a benefit contract shall not 14 
discriminate against any person with respect to participation or 15 
coverage under the contract on the basis of actual or perceived 16 
gender identity or expression. Prohibited discrimination includes, 17 
without limitation: 18 
 1. Denying, cancelling, limiting or refusing to issue or renew 19 
a benefit contract on the basis of the actual or perceived gender 20 
identity or expression of a person or a family member of the 21 
person; 22 
 2. Imposing a payment or premium that is based on the 23 
actual or perceived gender identity or expression of an insured or 24 
a family member of the insured; 25 
 3. Designating the actual or perceived gender identity or 26 
expression of a person or a family member of the person as 27 
grounds to deny, cancel or limit participation or coverage; and 28 
 4. Denying, cancelling or limiting participation or coverage 29 
on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or expression, 30 
including, without limitation, by limiting or denying coverage for 31 
health care services that are: 32 
 (a) Related to gender transition, provided that there is 33 
coverage under the contract for the services when the services are 34 
not related to gender transition; or 35 
 (b) Ordinarily or exclusively available to persons of any sex. 36 
 Sec. 6.8.  Chapter 695B of NRS is hereby amended by adding 37 
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 7 and 7.6 of this act. 38 
 Sec. 7.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 39 
hospital or medical services corporation that issues a policy of 40 
health insurance shall include in the policy coverage for the 41 
medically necessary treatment of conditions relating to gender 42 
dysphoria and gender incongruence. Such coverage must include 43 
coverage of medically necessary psychosocial and surgical 44   
 	– 17 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
intervention and any other medically necessary treatment for such 1 
disorders provided by: 2 
 (a) Endocrinologists; 3 
 (b) Pediatric endocrinologists; 4 
 (c) Social workers; 5 
 (d) Psychiatrists; 6 
 (e) Psychologists; 7 
 (f) Gynecologists; 8 
 (g) Speech-language pathologists; 9 
 (h) Primary care physicians; 10 
 (i) Advanced practice registered nurses; 11 
 (j) Physician assistants; and 12 
 (k) Any other providers of medically necessary services for the 13 
treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.  14 
 2.  This section does not require a policy of health insurance 15 
to include coverage for cosmetic surgery performed by a plastic 16 
surgeon or reconstructive surgeon that is not medically necessary. 17 
 3. A hospital or medical services corporation that issues a 18 
policy of health insurance shall not categorically refuse to cover 19 
medically necessary gender-affirming treatments or procedures or 20 
revisions to prior treatments if the policy provides coverage for any 21 
such services, procedures or revisions for purposes other than 22 
gender transition or affirmation. 23 
 4. A hospital or medical services corporation that issues a 24 
policy of health insurance may prescribe requirements that must 25 
be satisfied before the hospital or medical services corporation 26 
covers surgical treatment of conditions relating to gender 27 
dysphoria or gender incongruence for an insured who is less than 28 
18 years of age. Such requirements may include, without 29 
limitation, requirements that:  30 
 (a) The treatment must be recommended by a psychologist, 31 
psychiatrist or other mental health professional;  32 
 (b) The treatment must be recommended by a physician;  33 
 (c) The insured must provide a written expression of the desire 34 
of the insured to undergo the treatment;  35 
 (d) A written plan for treatment that covers at least 1 year must 36 
be developed and approved by at least two providers of health 37 
care; and 38 
 (e) Parental consent is provided for the insured unless the 39 
insured is expressly authorized by law to consent on his or her 40 
own behalf. 41 
 5.  When determining whether treatment is medically 42 
necessary for the purposes of this section, a hospital or medical 43 
services corporation must consider the most recent Standards of 44   
 	– 18 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
Care published by the World Professional Association for 1 
Transgender Health, or its successor organization. 2 
 6. A hospital or medical services corporation shall make a 3 
reasonable effort to ensure that the benefits required by subsection 4 
1 are made available to an insured through a provider of health 5 
care who participates in the network plan of the hospital or 6 
medical services corporation. If, after a reasonable effort, the 7 
hospital or medical services corporation is unable to make such 8 
benefits available through such a provider of health care, the 9 
hospital or medical services corporation may treat the treatment 10 
that the hospital or medical services corporation is unable to make 11 
available through such a provider of health care in the same 12 
manner as other services provided by a provider of health care 13 
who does not participate in the network plan of the hospital or 14 
medical services corporation.  15 
 7. If an insured appeals the denial of a claim or coverage 16 
under this section on the grounds that the treatment requested by 17 
the insured is not medically necessary, the hospital or medical 18 
services corporation must consult with a provider of health care 19 
who has experience in prescribing or delivering gender-affirming 20 
treatment concerning the medical necessity of the treatment 21 
requested by the insured when considering the appeal. 22 
 8.  A policy of health insurance subject to the provisions of 23 
this chapter that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on or 24 
after July 1, 2023, has the legal effect of including the coverage 25 
required by subsection 1, and any provision of the policy or 26 
renewal which is in conflict with the provisions of this section is 27 
void.  28 
 9.  As used in this section:  29 
 (a) “Cosmetic surgery”: 30 
  (1) Means a surgical procedure that: 31 
   (I) Does not meaningfully promote the proper function 32 
of the body; 33 
   (II) Does not prevent or treat illness or disease; and 34 
   (III) Is primarily directed at improving the appearance 35 
of a person. 36 
  (2) Includes, without limitation, cosmetic surgery directed 37 
at preserving beauty. 38 
 (b) “Gender dysphoria” means distress or impairment in 39 
social, occupational or other areas of functioning caused by a 40 
marked difference between the gender identity or expression of a 41 
person and the sex assigned to the person at birth which lasts at 42 
least 6 months and is shown by at least two of the following: 43   
 	– 19 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
  (1) A marked difference between gender identity or 1 
expression and primary or secondary sex characteristics or 2 
anticipated secondary sex characteristics in young adolescents.  3 
  (2) A strong desire to be rid of primary or secondary sex 4 
characteristics because of a marked difference between such sex 5 
characteristics and gender identity or expression or a desire to 6 
prevent the development of anticipated secondary sex 7 
characteristics in young adolescents.  8 
  (3) A strong desire for the primary or secondary sex 9 
characteristics of the gender opposite from the sex assigned at 10 
birth. 11 
  (4) A strong desire to be of the opposite gender or a gender 12 
different from the sex assigned at birth. 13 
  (5) A strong desire to be treated as the opposite gender or a 14 
gender different from the sex assigned at birth. 15 
  (6) A strong conviction of experiencing typical feelings and 16 
reactions of the opposite gender or a gender different from the sex 17 
assigned at birth. 18 
 (c) “Medically necessary” means health care services or 19 
products that a prudent provider of health care would provide to a 20 
patient to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease, or 21 
any symptoms thereof, that are necessary and: 22 
  (1) Provided in accordance with generally accepted 23 
standards of medical practice; 24 
  (2) Clinically appropriate with regard to type, frequency, 25 
extent, location and duration; 26 
  (3) Not provided primarily for the convenience of the 27 
patient or provider of health care; 28 
  (4) Required to improve a specific health condition of a 29 
patient or to preserve the existing state of health of the patient; 30 
and 31 
  (5) The most clinically appropriate level of health care that 32 
may be safely provided to the patient. 33 
 A provider of health care prescribing, ordering, recommending 34 
or approving a health care service or product does not, by itself, 35 
make that health care service or product medically necessary.  36 
 (d) “Network plan” means a policy of health insurance offered 37 
by a hospital or medical services corporation under which the 38 
financing and delivery of medical care, including items and 39 
services paid for as medical care, are provided, in whole or in part, 40 
through a defined set of providers under contract with the hospital 41 
or medical services corporation. The term does not include an 42 
arrangement for the financing of premiums.  43 
 (e) “Provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 44 
NRS 629.031.  45   
 	– 20 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 Sec. 7.6.  A hospital or medical services corporation that 1 
issues a policy of health insurance shall not discriminate against 2 
any person with respect to participation or coverage under the 3 
policy on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or 4 
expression. Prohibited discrimination includes, without limitation: 5 
 1. Denying, cancelling, limiting or refusing to issue or renew 6 
a policy of health insurance on the basis of the actual or perceived 7 
gender identity or expression of a person or a family member of 8 
the person; 9 
 2. Imposing a payment or premium that is based on the 10 
actual or perceived gender identity or expression of an insured or 11 
a family member of the insured; 12 
 3. Designating the actual or perceived gender identity or 13 
expression of a person or a family member of the person as 14 
grounds to deny, cancel or limit participation or coverage; and 15 
 4. Denying, cancelling or limiting participation or coverage 16 
on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or expression, 17 
including, without limitation, by limiting or denying coverage for 18 
health care services that are: 19 
 (a) Related to gender transition, provided that there is 20 
coverage under the policy for the services when the services are 21 
not related to gender transition; or 22 
 (b) Ordinarily or exclusively available to persons of any sex. 23 
 Sec. 7.8.  Chapter 695C of NRS is hereby amended by adding 24 
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 8 and 8.6 of this act. 25 
 Sec. 8.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 26 
health maintenance organization that issues a health care plan 27 
shall include in the health care plan coverage for the medically 28 
necessary treatment of conditions relating to gender dysphoria and 29 
gender incongruence. Such coverage must include coverage of 30 
medically necessary psychosocial and surgical intervention and 31 
any other medically necessary treatment for such disorders 32 
provided by: 33 
 (a) Endocrinologists; 34 
 (b) Pediatric endocrinologists; 35 
 (c) Social workers; 36 
 (d) Psychiatrists; 37 
 (e) Psychologists; 38 
 (f) Gynecologists; 39 
 (g) Speech-language pathologists; 40 
 (h) Primary care physicians; 41 
 (i) Advanced practice registered nurses; 42 
 (j) Physician assistants; and 43 
 (k) Any other providers of medically necessary services for the 44 
treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.  45   
 	– 21 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 2.  This section does not require a health care plan to include 1 
coverage for cosmetic surgery performed by a plastic surgeon or 2 
reconstructive surgeon that is not medically necessary. 3 
 3. A health maintenance organization that issues a health 4 
care plan shall not categorically refuse to cover medically 5 
necessary gender-affirming treatments or procedures or revisions 6 
to prior treatments if the plan provides coverage for any such 7 
services, procedures or revisions for purposes other than gender 8 
transition or affirmation. 9 
 4. A health maintenance organization that issues a health 10 
care plan may prescribe requirements that must be satisfied before 11 
the health maintenance organization covers surgical treatment of 12 
conditions relating to gender dysphoria or gender incongruence 13 
for an enrollee who is less than 18 years of age. Such 14 
requirements may include, without limitation, requirements that:  15 
 (a) The treatment must be recommended by a psychologist, 16 
psychiatrist or other mental health professional;  17 
 (b) The treatment must be recommended by a physician;  18 
 (c) The enrollee must provide a written expression of the desire 19 
of the enrollee to undergo the treatment;  20 
 (d) A written plan for treatment that covers at least 1 year must 21 
be developed and approved by at least two providers of health 22 
care; and 23 
 (e) Parental consent is provided for the enrollee unless the 24 
enrollee is expressly authorized by law to consent on his or her 25 
own behalf. 26 
 5.  When determining whether treatment is medically 27 
necessary for the purposes of this section, a health maintenance 28 
organization must consider the most recent Standards of Care 29 
prescribed by the World Professional Association for Transgender 30 
Health, or its successor organization. 31 
 6. A health maintenance organization shall make a 32 
reasonable effort to ensure that the benefits required by subsection 33 
1 are made available to an enrollee through a provider of  34 
health care who participates in the network plan of the health 35 
maintenance organization. If, after a reasonable effort, the health 36 
maintenance organization is unable to make such benefits 37 
available through such a provider of health care, the health 38 
maintenance organization may treat the treatment that the health 39 
maintenance organization is unable to make available through 40 
such a provider of health care in the same manner as other 41 
services provided by a provider of health care who does not 42 
participate in the network plan of the health maintenance 43 
organization.  44   
 	– 22 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 7. If an enrollee appeals the denial of a claim or coverage 1 
under this section on the grounds that the treatment requested by 2 
the enrollee is not medically necessary, the health maintenance 3 
organization must consult with a provider of health care who has 4 
experience in prescribing or delivering gender-affirming treatment 5 
concerning the medical necessity of the treatment requested by the 6 
enrollee when considering the appeal. 7 
 8.  A health care plan subject to the provisions of this chapter 8 
that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on or after July 1, 9 
2023, has the legal effect of including the coverage required by 10 
subsection 1, and any provision of the plan or renewal which is in 11 
conflict with the provisions of this section is void.  12 
 9.  As used in this section:  13 
 (a) “Cosmetic surgery”: 14 
  (1) Means a surgical procedure that: 15 
   (I) Does not meaningfully promote the proper function 16 
of the body; 17 
   (II) Does not prevent or treat illness or disease; and 18 
   (III) Is primarily directed at improving the appearance 19 
of a person. 20 
  (2) Includes, without limitation, cosmetic surgery directed 21 
at preserving beauty. 22 
 (b) “Gender dysphoria” means distress or impairment in 23 
social, occupational or other areas of functioning caused by a 24 
marked difference between the gender identity or expression of a 25 
person and the sex assigned to the person at birth which lasts at 26 
least 6 months and is shown by at least two of the following: 27 
  (1) A marked difference between gender identity or 28 
expression and primary or secondary sex characteristics or 29 
anticipated secondary sex characteristics in young adolescents.  30 
  (2) A strong desire to be rid of primary or secondary sex 31 
characteristics because of a marked difference between such sex 32 
characteristics and gender identity or expression or a desire to 33 
prevent the development of anticipated secondary sex 34 
characteristics in young adolescents.  35 
  (3) A strong desire for the primary or secondary sex 36 
characteristics of the gender opposite from the sex assigned at 37 
birth. 38 
  (4) A strong desire to be of the opposite gender or a gender 39 
different from the sex assigned at birth. 40 
  (5) A strong desire to be treated as the opposite gender or a 41 
gender different from the sex assigned at birth. 42 
  (6) A strong conviction of experiencing typical feelings and 43 
reactions of the opposite gender or a gender different from the sex 44 
assigned at birth. 45   
 	– 23 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 (c) “Medically necessary” means health care services or 1 
products that a prudent provider of health care would provide to a 2 
patient to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease, or 3 
any symptoms thereof, that are necessary and: 4 
  (1) Provided in accordance with generally accepted 5 
standards of medical practice; 6 
  (2) Clinically appropriate with regard to type, frequency, 7 
extent, location and duration; 8 
  (3) Not provided primarily for the convenience of the 9 
patient or provider of health care; 10 
  (4) Required to improve a specific health condition of a 11 
patient or to preserve the existing state of health of the patient; 12 
and 13 
  (5) The most clinically appropriate level of health care that 14 
may be safely provided to the patient. 15 
 A provider of health care prescribing, ordering, recommending 16 
or approving a health care service or product does not, by itself, 17 
make that health care service or product medically necessary.  18 
 (d) “Network plan” means a health care plan offered by a 19 
health maintenance organization under which the financing and 20 
delivery of medical care, including items and services paid for as 21 
medical care, are provided, in whole or in part, through a defined 22 
set of providers under contract with the health maintenance 23 
organization. The term does not include an arrangement for the 24 
financing of premiums.  25 
 (e) “Provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 26 
NRS 629.031.  27 
 Sec. 8.6.  A health maintenance organization that issues a 28 
health care plan shall not discriminate against any person with 29 
respect to participation or coverage under the plan on the basis of 30 
actual or perceived gender identity or expression. Prohibited 31 
discrimination includes, without limitation: 32 
 1. Denying, cancelling, limiting or refusing to issue or renew 33 
a health care plan on the basis of the actual or perceived gender 34 
identity or expression of a person or a family member of the 35 
person; 36 
 2. Imposing a payment or premium that is based on the 37 
actual or perceived gender identity or expression of an enrollee or 38 
a family member of the enrollee; 39 
 3. Designating the actual or perceived gender identity or 40 
expression of a person or a family member of the person as 41 
grounds to deny, cancel or limit participation or coverage; and 42 
 4. Denying, cancelling or limiting participation or coverage 43 
on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or expression, 44   
 	– 24 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
including, without limitation, by limiting or denying coverage for 1 
health care services that are: 2 
 (a) Related to gender transition, provided that there is 3 
coverage under the plan for the services when the services are not 4 
related to gender transition; or 5 
 (b) Ordinarily or exclusively available to persons of any sex. 6 
 Sec. 9.  NRS 695C.050 is hereby amended to read as follows: 7 
 695C.050 1.  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or 8 
in specific provisions of this title, the provisions of this title are not 9 
applicable to any health maintenance organization granted a 10 
certificate of authority under this chapter. This provision does not 11 
apply to an insurer licensed and regulated pursuant to this title 12 
except with respect to its activities as a health maintenance 13 
organization authorized and regulated pursuant to this chapter. 14 
 2.  Solicitation of enrollees by a health maintenance 15 
organization granted a certificate of authority, or its representatives, 16 
must not be construed to violate any provision of law relating to 17 
solicitation or advertising by practitioners of a healing art. 18 
 3.  Any health maintenance organization authorized under this 19 
chapter shall not be deemed to be practicing medicine and is exempt 20 
from the provisions of chapter 630 of NRS. 21 
 4.  The provisions of NRS 695C.110, 695C.125, 695C.1691, 22 
695C.1693, 695C.170, 695C.1703, 695C.1705, 695C.1709 to 23 
695C.173, inclusive, 695C.1733, 695C.17335, 695C.1734, 24 
695C.1751, 695C.1755, 695C.1759, 695C.176 to 695C.200, 25 
inclusive, and 695C.265 do not apply to a health maintenance 26 
organization that provides health care services through managed 27 
care to recipients of Medicaid under the State Plan for Medicaid or 28 
insurance pursuant to the Children’s Health Insurance Program 29 
pursuant to a contract with the Division of Health Care Financing 30 
and Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services. This 31 
subsection does not exempt a health maintenance organization from 32 
any provision of this chapter for services provided pursuant to any 33 
other contract. 34 
 5.  The provisions of NRS 695C.1694 to 695C.1698, inclusive, 35 
695C.1701, 695C.1708, 695C.1728, 695C.1731, 695C.17333, 36 
695C.17345, 695C.17347, 695C.1735, 695C.1737, 695C.1743, 37 
695C.1745 and 695C.1757 and sections 8 and 8.6 of this act apply 38 
to a health maintenance organization that provides health care 39 
services through managed care to recipients of Medicaid under the 40 
State Plan for Medicaid. 41 
 Sec. 10.  NRS 695C.330 is hereby amended to read as follows: 42 
 695C.330 1.  The Commissioner may suspend or revoke any 43 
certificate of authority issued to a health maintenance organization 44   
 	– 25 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
pursuant to the provisions of this chapter if the Commissioner finds 1 
that any of the following conditions exist: 2 
 (a) The health maintenance organization is operating 3 
significantly in contravention of its basic organizational document, 4 
its health care plan or in a manner contrary to that described in and 5 
reasonably inferred from any other information submitted pursuant 6 
to NRS 695C.060, 695C.070 and 695C.140, unless any amendments 7 
to those submissions have been filed with and approved by the 8 
Commissioner; 9 
 (b) The health maintenance organization issues evidence of 10 
coverage or uses a schedule of charges for health care services 11 
which do not comply with the requirements of NRS 695C.1691 to 12 
695C.200, inclusive, or 695C.207 [;] or sections 8 and 8.6 of this 13 
act; 14 
 (c) The health care plan does not furnish comprehensive health 15 
care services as provided for in NRS 695C.060; 16 
 (d) The Commissioner certifies that the health maintenance 17 
organization: 18 
  (1) Does not meet the requirements of subsection 1 of NRS 19 
695C.080; or 20 
  (2) Is unable to fulfill its obligations to furnish health care 21 
services as required under its health care plan; 22 
 (e) The health maintenance organization is no longer financially 23 
responsible and may reasonably be expected to be unable to meet its 24 
obligations to enrollees or prospective enrollees; 25 
 (f) The health maintenance organization has failed to put into 26 
effect a mechanism affording the enrollees an opportunity to 27 
participate in matters relating to the content of programs pursuant to 28 
NRS 695C.110; 29 
 (g) The health maintenance organization has failed to put into 30 
effect the system required by NRS 695C.260 for: 31 
  (1) Resolving complaints in a manner reasonably to dispose 32 
of valid complaints; and 33 
  (2) Conducting external reviews of adverse determinations 34 
that comply with the provisions of NRS 695G.241 to 695G.310, 35 
inclusive; 36 
 (h) The health maintenance organization or any person on its 37 
behalf has advertised or merchandised its services in an untrue, 38 
misrepresentative, misleading, deceptive or unfair manner; 39 
 (i) The continued operation of the health maintenance 40 
organization would be hazardous to its enrollees or creditors or to 41 
the general public; 42 
 (j) The health maintenance organization fails to provide the 43 
coverage required by NRS 695C.1691; or 44   
 	– 26 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 (k) The health maintenance organization has otherwise failed to 1 
comply substantially with the provisions of this chapter. 2 
 2.  A certificate of authority must be suspended or revoked only 3 
after compliance with the requirements of NRS 695C.340. 4 
 3.  If the certificate of authority of a health maintenance 5 
organization is suspended, the health maintenance organization shall 6 
not, during the period of that suspension, enroll any additional 7 
groups or new individual contracts, unless those groups or persons 8 
were contracted for before the date of suspension. 9 
 4.  If the certificate of authority of a health maintenance 10 
organization is revoked, the organization shall proceed, immediately 11 
following the effective date of the order of revocation, to wind up its 12 
affairs and shall conduct no further business except as may be 13 
essential to the orderly conclusion of the affairs of the organization. 14 
It shall engage in no further advertising or solicitation of any kind. 15 
The Commissioner may, by written order, permit such further 16 
operation of the organization as the Commissioner may find to be in 17 
the best interest of enrollees to the end that enrollees are afforded 18 
the greatest practical opportunity to obtain continuing coverage for 19 
health care. 20 
 Sec. 10.8.  Chapter 695G of NRS is hereby amended by adding 21 
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 11 and 11.6 of this act. 22 
 Sec. 11.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 23 
managed care organization that issues a health care plan shall 24 
include in the health care plan coverage for the medically 25 
necessary treatment of conditions relating to gender dysphoria and 26 
gender incongruence. Such coverage must include coverage of 27 
medically necessary psychosocial and surgical intervention and 28 
any other medically necessary treatment for such disorders 29 
provided by: 30 
 (a) Endocrinologists; 31 
 (b) Pediatric endocrinologists; 32 
 (c) Social workers; 33 
 (d) Psychiatrists; 34 
 (e) Psychologists; 35 
 (f) Gynecologists; 36 
 (g) Speech-language pathologists; 37 
 (h) Primary care physicians; 38 
 (i) Advanced practice registered nurses; 39 
 (j) Physician assistants; and 40 
 (k) Any other providers of medically necessary services for the 41 
treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.  42 
 2.  This section does not require a health care plan to include 43 
coverage for cosmetic surgery performed by a plastic surgeon or 44 
reconstructive surgeon that is not medically necessary. 45   
 	– 27 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 3. A managed care organization that issues a health care 1 
plan shall not categorically refuse to cover medically necessary 2 
gender-affirming treatments or procedures or revisions to prior 3 
treatments if the plan provides coverage for any such services, 4 
procedures or revisions for purposes other than gender transition 5 
or affirmation. 6 
 4. A managed care organization that issues a health care 7 
plan may prescribe requirements that must be satisfied before the 8 
managed care organization covers surgical treatment of 9 
conditions relating to gender dysphoria or gender incongruence 10 
for an insured who is less than 18 years of age. Such requirements 11 
may include, without limitation, requirements that:  12 
 (a) The treatment must be recommended by a psychologist, 13 
psychiatrist or other mental health professional;  14 
 (b) The treatment must be recommended by a physician;  15 
 (c) The insured must provide a written expression of the desire 16 
of the insured to undergo the treatment;  17 
 (d) A written plan for treatment that covers at least 1 year must 18 
be developed and approved by at least two providers of health 19 
care; and 20 
 (e) Parental consent is provided for the insured unless the 21 
insured is expressly authorized by law to consent on his or her 22 
own behalf. 23 
 5. When determining whether treatment is medically 24 
necessary for the purposes of this section, a managed care 25 
organization must consider the most recent Standards of Care 26 
prescribed by the World Professional Association for Transgender 27 
Health, or its successor organization. 28 
 6. A managed care organization shall make a reasonable 29 
effort to ensure that the benefits required by subsection 1 are 30 
made available to an insured through a provider of health care 31 
who participates in the network plan of the managed  32 
care organization. If, after a reasonable effort, the managed care 33 
organization is unable to make such benefits available through 34 
such a provider of health care, the managed care organization 35 
may treat the treatment that the managed care organization is 36 
unable to make available through such a provider of health care 37 
in the same manner as other services provided by a provider of 38 
health care who does not participate in the network plan of the 39 
managed care organization.  40 
 7. If an insured appeals the denial of a claim or coverage 41 
under this section on the grounds that the treatment requested by 42 
the insured is not medically necessary, the managed care 43 
organization must consult with a provider of health care who has 44 
experience in prescribing or delivering gender-affirming treatment 45   
 	– 28 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
concerning the medical necessity of the treatment requested by the 1 
insured when considering the appeal. 2 
 8.  Evidence of coverage subject to the provisions of this 3 
chapter that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on or after 4 
July 1, 2023, has the legal effect of including the coverage 5 
required by subsection 1, and any provision of the plan or renewal 6 
which is in conflict with the provisions of this section is void.  7 
 9.  As used in this section:  8 
 (a) “Cosmetic surgery”: 9 
  (1) Means a surgical procedure that: 10 
   (I) Does not meaningfully promote the proper function 11 
of the body; 12 
   (II) Does not prevent or treat illness or disease; and 13 
   (III) Is primarily directed at improving the appearance 14 
of a person. 15 
  (2) Includes, without limitation, cosmetic surgery directed 16 
at preserving beauty. 17 
 (b) “Gender dysphoria” means distress or impairment in 18 
social, occupational or other areas of functioning caused by a 19 
marked difference between the gender identity or expression of a 20 
person and the sex assigned to the person at birth which lasts at 21 
least 6 months and is shown by at least two of the following: 22 
  (1) A marked difference between gender identity or 23 
expression and primary or secondary sex characteristics or 24 
anticipated secondary sex characteristics in young adolescents.  25 
  (2) A strong desire to be rid of primary or secondary sex 26 
characteristics because of a marked difference between such sex 27 
characteristics and gender identity or expression or a desire to 28 
prevent the development of anticipated secondary sex 29 
characteristics in young adolescents.  30 
  (3) A strong desire for the primary or secondary sex 31 
characteristics of the gender opposite from the sex assigned at 32 
birth. 33 
  (4) A strong desire to be of the opposite gender or a gender 34 
different from the sex assigned at birth. 35 
  (5) A strong desire to be treated as the opposite gender or a 36 
gender different from the sex assigned at birth. 37 
  (6) A strong conviction of experiencing typical feelings and 38 
reactions of the opposite gender or a gender different from the sex 39 
assigned at birth. 40 
 (c) “Medically necessary” means health care services or 41 
products that a prudent provider of health care would provide to a 42 
patient to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease, or 43 
any symptoms thereof, that are necessary and: 44   
 	– 29 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
  (1) Provided in accordance with generally accepted 1 
standards of medical practice; 2 
  (2) Clinically appropriate with regard to type, frequency, 3 
extent, location and duration; 4 
  (3) Not provided primarily for the convenience of the 5 
patient or provider of health care; 6 
  (4) Required to improve a specific health condition of a 7 
patient or to preserve the existing state of health of the patient; 8 
and 9 
  (5) The most clinically appropriate level of health care that 10 
may be safely provided to the patient. 11 
 A provider of health care prescribing, ordering, recommending 12 
or approving a health care service or product does not, by itself, 13 
make that health care service or product medically necessary.  14 
 (d) “Network plan” means a health care plan offered by a 15 
managed care organization under which the financing and 16 
delivery of medical care, including items and services paid for as 17 
medical care, are provided, in whole or in part, through a defined 18 
set of providers under contract with the managed care 19 
organization. The term does not include an arrangement for the 20 
financing of premiums.  21 
 (e) “Provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 22 
NRS 629.031.  23 
 Sec. 11.6.  A managed care organization that issues a health 24 
care plan shall not discriminate against any person with respect to 25 
participation or coverage under the plan on the basis of actual or 26 
perceived gender identity or expression. Prohibited discrimination 27 
includes, without limitation: 28 
 1. Denying, cancelling, limiting or refusing to issue or renew 29 
a health care plan on the basis of the actual or perceived gender 30 
identity or expression of a person or a family member of the 31 
person; 32 
 2. Imposing a payment or premium that is based on the 33 
actual or perceived gender identity or expression of an insured or 34 
a family member of the insured; 35 
 3. Designating the actual or perceived gender identity or 36 
expression of a person or a family member of the person as 37 
grounds to deny, cancel or limit participation or coverage; and 38 
 4. Denying, cancelling or limiting participation or coverage 39 
on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or expression, 40 
including, without limitation, by limiting or denying coverage for 41 
health care services that are: 42 
 (a) Related to gender transition, provided that there is 43 
coverage under the plan for the services when the services are not 44 
related to gender transition; or 45   
 	– 30 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 (b) Ordinarily or exclusively available to persons of any sex. 1 
 Sec. 12.  NRS 232.320 is hereby amended to read as follows: 2 
 232.320 1.  The Director: 3 
 (a) Shall appoint, with the consent of the Governor, 4 
administrators of the divisions of the Department, who are 5 
respectively designated as follows: 6 
  (1) The Administrator of the Aging and Disability Services 7 
Division; 8 
  (2) The Administrator of the Division of Welfare and 9 
Supportive Services; 10 
  (3) The Administrator of the Division of Child and Family 11 
Services; 12 
  (4) The Administrator of the Division of Health Care 13 
Financing and Policy; and 14 
  (5) The Administrator of the Division of Public and 15 
Behavioral Health. 16 
 (b) Shall administer, through the divisions of the Department, 17 
the provisions of chapters 63, 424, 425, 427A, 432A to 442, 18 
inclusive, 446 to 450, inclusive, 458A and 656A of NRS, NRS 19 
127.220 to 127.310, inclusive, 422.001 to 422.410, inclusive, and 20 
sections 15 and 15.6 of this act, 422.580, 432.010 to 432.133, 21 
inclusive, 432B.6201 to 432B.626, inclusive, 444.002 to 444.430, 22 
inclusive, and 445A.010 to 445A.055, inclusive, and all other 23 
provisions of law relating to the functions of the divisions of the 24 
Department, but is not responsible for the clinical activities of the 25 
Division of Public and Behavioral Health or the professional line 26 
activities of the other divisions. 27 
 (c) Shall administer any state program for persons with 28 
developmental disabilities established pursuant to the 29 
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 30 
2000, 42 U.S.C. §§ 15001 et seq. 31 
 (d) Shall, after considering advice from agencies of local 32 
governments and nonprofit organizations which provide social 33 
services, adopt a master plan for the provision of human services in 34 
this State. The Director shall revise the plan biennially and deliver a 35 
copy of the plan to the Governor and the Legislature at the 36 
beginning of each regular session. The plan must: 37 
  (1) Identify and assess the plans and programs of the 38 
Department for the provision of human services, and any 39 
duplication of those services by federal, state and local agencies; 40 
  (2) Set forth priorities for the provision of those services; 41 
  (3) Provide for communication and the coordination of those 42 
services among nonprofit organizations, agencies of local 43 
government, the State and the Federal Government; 44   
 	– 31 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
  (4) Identify the sources of funding for services provided by 1 
the Department and the allocation of that funding; 2 
  (5) Set forth sufficient information to assist the Department 3 
in providing those services and in the planning and budgeting for the 4 
future provision of those services; and 5 
  (6) Contain any other information necessary for the 6 
Department to communicate effectively with the Federal 7 
Government concerning demographic trends, formulas for the 8 
distribution of federal money and any need for the modification of 9 
programs administered by the Department. 10 
 (e) May, by regulation, require nonprofit organizations and state 11 
and local governmental agencies to provide information regarding 12 
the programs of those organizations and agencies, excluding 13 
detailed information relating to their budgets and payrolls, which the 14 
Director deems necessary for the performance of the duties imposed 15 
upon him or her pursuant to this section. 16 
 (f) Has such other powers and duties as are provided by law. 17 
 2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director, or 18 
the Director’s designee, is responsible for appointing and removing 19 
subordinate officers and employees of the Department. 20 
 Sec. 13.  NRS 287.010 is hereby amended to read as follows: 21 
 287.010 1.  The governing body of any county, school 22 
district, municipal corporation, political subdivision, public 23 
corporation or other local governmental agency of the State of 24 
Nevada may: 25 
 (a) Adopt and carry into effect a system of group life, accident 26 
or health insurance, or any combination thereof, for the benefit of its 27 
officers and employees, and the dependents of officers and 28 
employees who elect to accept the insurance and who, where 29 
necessary, have authorized the governing body to make deductions 30 
from their compensation for the payment of premiums on the 31 
insurance. 32 
 (b) Purchase group policies of life, accident or health insurance, 33 
or any combination thereof, for the benefit of such officers and 34 
employees, and the dependents of such officers and employees, as 35 
have authorized the purchase, from insurance companies authorized 36 
to transact the business of such insurance in the State of Nevada, 37 
and, where necessary, deduct from the compensation of officers and 38 
employees the premiums upon insurance and pay the deductions 39 
upon the premiums. 40 
 (c) Provide group life, accident or health coverage through a 41 
self-insurance reserve fund and, where necessary, deduct 42 
contributions to the maintenance of the fund from the compensation 43 
of officers and employees and pay the deductions into the fund. The 44 
money accumulated for this purpose through deductions from  45   
 	– 32 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
the compensation of officers and employees and contributions of the 1 
governing body must be maintained as an internal service fund as 2 
defined by NRS 354.543. The money must be deposited in a state or 3 
national bank or credit union authorized to transact business in the 4 
State of Nevada. Any independent administrator of a fund created 5 
under this section is subject to the licensing requirements of chapter 6 
683A of NRS, and must be a resident of this State. Any contract 7 
with an independent administrator must be approved by the 8 
Commissioner of Insurance as to the reasonableness of 9 
administrative charges in relation to contributions collected and 10 
benefits provided. The provisions of NRS 686A.135, 687B.352, 11 
687B.408, 687B.723, 687B.725, 689B.030 to 689B.050, inclusive, 12 
and sections 3 and 3.6 of this act, 689B.265, 689B.287 and 13 
689B.500 apply to coverage provided pursuant to this paragraph, 14 
except that the provisions of NRS 689B.0378, 689B.03785 and 15 
689B.500 only apply to coverage for active officers and employees 16 
of the governing body, or the dependents of such officers and 17 
employees. 18 
 (d) Defray part or all of the cost of maintenance of a self-19 
insurance fund or of the premiums upon insurance. The money for 20 
contributions must be budgeted for in accordance with the laws 21 
governing the county, school district, municipal corporation, 22 
political subdivision, public corporation or other local governmental 23 
agency of the State of Nevada. 24 
 2.  If a school district offers group insurance to its officers and 25 
employees pursuant to this section, members of the board of trustees 26 
of the school district must not be excluded from participating in the 27 
group insurance. If the amount of the deductions from compensation 28 
required to pay for the group insurance exceeds the compensation to 29 
which a trustee is entitled, the difference must be paid by the trustee. 30 
 3.  In any county in which a legal services organization exists, 31 
the governing body of the county, or of any school district, 32 
municipal corporation, political subdivision, public corporation or 33 
other local governmental agency of the State of Nevada in the 34 
county, may enter into a contract with the legal services 35 
organization pursuant to which the officers and employees of the 36 
legal services organization, and the dependents of those officers and 37 
employees, are eligible for any life, accident or health insurance 38 
provided pursuant to this section to the officers and employees, and 39 
the dependents of the officers and employees, of the county, school 40 
district, municipal corporation, political subdivision, public 41 
corporation or other local governmental agency. 42 
 4.  If a contract is entered into pursuant to subsection 3, the 43 
officers and employees of the legal services organization: 44   
 	– 33 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 (a) Shall be deemed, solely for the purposes of this section, to be 1 
officers and employees of the county, school district, municipal 2 
corporation, political subdivision, public corporation or other local 3 
governmental agency with which the legal services organization has 4 
contracted; and 5 
 (b) Must be required by the contract to pay the premiums or 6 
contributions for all insurance which they elect to accept or of which 7 
they authorize the purchase. 8 
 5.  A contract that is entered into pursuant to subsection 3: 9 
 (a) Must be submitted to the Commissioner of Insurance for 10 
approval not less than 30 days before the date on which the contract 11 
is to become effective. 12 
 (b) Does not become effective unless approved by the 13 
Commissioner. 14 
 (c) Shall be deemed to be approved if not disapproved by the 15 
Commissioner within 30 days after its submission. 16 
 6.  As used in this section, “legal services organization” means 17 
an organization that operates a program for legal aid and receives 18 
money pursuant to NRS 19.031. 19 
 Sec. 14.  NRS 287.04335 is hereby amended to read as 20 
follows: 21 
 287.04335 If the Board provides health insurance through a 22 
plan of self-insurance, it shall comply with the provisions of NRS 23 
686A.135, 687B.352, 687B.409, 687B.723, 687B.725, 689B.0353, 24 
689B.255, 695C.1723, 695G.150, 695G.155, 695G.160, 695G.162, 25 
695G.1635, 695G.164, 695G.1645, 695G.1665, 695G.167, 26 
695G.1675, 695G.170 to 695G.174, inclusive, and sections 11 and 27 
11.6 of this act, 695G.176, 695G.177, 695G.200 to 695G.230, 28 
inclusive, 695G.241 to 695G.310, inclusive, and 695G.405, in the 29 
same manner as an insurer that is licensed pursuant to title 57 of 30 
NRS is required to comply with those provisions. 31 
 Sec. 14.8.  Chapter 422 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 32 
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 15 and 15.6 of this act. 33 
 Sec. 15.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the 34 
Director shall include in the State Plan for Medicaid a 35 
requirement that the State, to the extent authorized by federal law, 36 
must pay the nonfederal share of expenditures incurred for the 37 
medically necessary treatment of conditions relating to gender 38 
dysphoria and gender incongruence. Such treatment includes 39 
medically necessary psychosocial and surgical intervention and 40 
any other medically necessary treatment for such disorders 41 
provided by: 42 
 (a) Endocrinologists; 43 
 (b) Pediatric endocrinologists; 44 
 (c) Social workers; 45   
 	– 34 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
 (d) Psychiatrists; 1 
 (e) Psychologists; 2 
 (f) Gynecologists; 3 
 (g) Speech-language pathologists; 4 
 (h) Primary care physicians; 5 
 (i) Advanced practice registered nurses; 6 
 (j) Physician assistants; and 7 
 (k) Any other providers of medically necessary services for the 8 
treatment of gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.  9 
 2.  This section does not require the Director to include in the 10 
State Plan for Medicaid coverage for cosmetic surgery performed 11 
by a plastic surgeon or reconstructive surgeon that is not 12 
medically necessary. 13 
 3. The Department shall not categorically refuse to cover any 14 
medically necessary gender-affirming treatments or procedures or 15 
revisions to prior treatments if the State Plan for Medicaid 16 
provides coverage for any such services, procedures or revisions 17 
for purposes other than gender transition or affirmation. 18 
 4. When determining whether treatment is medically 19 
necessary for the purposes of this section, the Department must 20 
consider the most recent Standards of Care published by the 21 
World Professional Association for Transgender Health, or its 22 
successor organization. 23 
 5. If a person appeals the denial of a payment or coverage 24 
under this section on the grounds that the treatment requested by 25 
the person is not medically necessary, the Division must consult 26 
with a provider of health care who has experience in prescribing 27 
or delivering gender-affirming treatment concerning the medical 28 
necessity of the treatment requested by the person when 29 
considering the appeal. 30 
 6. As used in this section: 31 
 (a) “Cosmetic surgery”: 32 
  (1) Means a surgical procedure that: 33 
   (I) Does not meaningfully promote the proper function 34 
of the body; 35 
   (II) Does not prevent or treat illness or disease; and 36 
   (III) Is primarily directed at improving the appearance 37 
of a person. 38 
  (2) Includes, without limitation, cosmetic surgery directed 39 
at preserving beauty. 40 
 (b) “Gender dysphoria” means distress or impairment in 41 
social, occupational or other areas of functioning caused by a 42 
marked difference between the gender identity or expression of a 43 
person and the sex assigned to the person at birth which lasts at 44 
least 6 months and is shown by at least two of the following:  45   
 	– 35 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
  (1) A marked difference between gender identity or 1 
expression and primary or secondary sex characteristics or 2 
anticipated secondary sex characteristics in young adolescents.  3 
  (2) A strong desire to be rid of primary or secondary sex 4 
characteristics because of a marked difference between such sex 5 
characteristics and gender identity or expression or a desire to 6 
prevent the development of anticipated secondary sex 7 
characteristics in young adolescents.  8 
  (3) A strong desire for the primary or secondary sex 9 
characteristics of the gender opposite from the sex assigned at 10 
birth. 11 
  (4) A strong desire to be of the opposite gender or a gender 12 
different from the sex assigned at birth. 13 
  (5) A strong desire to be treated as the opposite gender or a 14 
gender different from the sex assigned at birth. 15 
  (6) A strong conviction of experiencing typical feelings and 16 
reactions of the opposite gender or a gender different from the sex 17 
assigned at birth. 18 
 (c) “Medically necessary” means health care services or 19 
products that a prudent provider of health care would provide to a 20 
patient to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease, or 21 
any symptoms thereof, that are necessary and: 22 
  (1) Provided in accordance with generally accepted 23 
standards of medical practice; 24 
  (2) Clinically appropriate with regard to type, frequency, 25 
extent, location and duration; 26 
  (3) Not provided primarily for the convenience of the 27 
patient or provider of health care; 28 
  (4) Required to improve a specific health condition of a 29 
patient or to preserve the existing state of health of the patient; 30 
and 31 
  (5) The most clinically appropriate level of health care that 32 
may be safely provided to the patient. 33 
 A provider of health care prescribing, ordering, recommending 34 
or approving a health care service or product does not, by itself, 35 
make that health care service or product medically necessary.  36 
 (d) “Provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 37 
NRS 629.031. 38 
 Sec. 15.6.  The Department shall not discriminate against any 39 
person with respect to participation or coverage under Medicaid 40 
on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or expression. 41 
Prohibited discrimination includes, without limitation: 42 
 1. Denying, cancelling, limiting or refusing to issue a 43 
payment or coverage on the basis of the actual or perceived gender 44   
 	– 36 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
identity or expression of a person or a family member of the 1 
person; 2 
 2. Imposing a payment that is based on the actual or 3 
perceived gender identity or expression of a recipient of Medicaid 4 
or a family member of the recipient; 5 
 3. Designating the actual or perceived gender identity or 6 
expression of a person or a family member of the person as 7 
grounds to deny, cancel or limit participation or coverage; and 8 
 4. Denying, cancelling or limiting participation or coverage 9 
on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or expression, 10 
including, without limitation, by limiting or denying payment or 11 
coverage for health care services that are: 12 
 (a) Related to gender transition, provided that there is 13 
coverage under Medicaid for the services when the services are 14 
not related to gender transition; or 15 
 (b) Ordinarily or exclusively available to persons of any sex. 16 
 Sec. 16.  1. There is hereby appropriated from the State 17 
General Fund to the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy 18 
of the Department of Health and Human Services for the costs of 19 
providing coverage under Medicaid for the treatment of conditions 20 
relating to gender dysphoria and gender incongruence required by 21 
section 15 of this act the following sums: 22 
For the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 .................................. $162,926 23 
For the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 .................................. $182,654 24 
 2. Any balance of the sums appropriated by subsection 1 25 
remaining at the end of the respective fiscal years must not be 26 
committed for expenditure after June 30 of the respective fiscal 27 
years by the entity to which the appropriation is made or any entity 28 
to which money from the appropriation is granted or otherwise 29 
transferred in any manner, and any portion of the appropriated 30 
money remaining must not be spent for any purpose after  31 
September 20, 2024, and September 19, 2025, respectively, by 32 
either the entity to which the money was appropriated or the entity 33 
to which the money was subsequently granted or transferred, and 34 
must be reverted to the State General Fund on or before  35 
September 20, 2024, and September 19, 2025, respectively. 36 
 3. Expenditure of $1,239,172 not appropriated from the State 37 
General Fund or the State Highway Fund is hereby authorized 38 
during Fiscal Year 2023-2024 by the Division of Health Care 39 
Financing and Policy of the Department of Health and Human 40 
Services for the same purposes as set forth in subsection 1. 41 
 4. Expenditure of $1,076,246 not appropriated from the State 42 
General Fund or the State Highway Fund is hereby authorized 43 
during Fiscal Year 2024-2025 by the Division of Health Care 44   
 	– 37 – 
 
 
- *SB163_R2* 
Financing and Policy of the Department of Health and Human 1 
Services for the same purposes as set forth in subsection 1. 2 
 Sec. 17.  1. There is hereby appropriated from the State 3 
General Fund to the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy 4 
of the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of 5 
$19,500 for the costs of information system upgrades and actuarial 6 
rate setting associated with carrying out the provisions of this act. 7 
 2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by 8 
subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 9 
2024, by the entity to which the appropriation is made or any entity 10 
to which money from the appropriation is granted or otherwise 11 
transferred in any manner, and any portion of the appropriated 12 
money remaining must not be spent for any purpose after  13 
September 20, 2024, by either the entity to which the money was 14 
appropriated or the entity to which the money was subsequently 15 
granted or transferred, and must be reverted to the State General 16 
Fund on or before September 20, 2024. 17 
 3. Expenditure of $48,000 not appropriated from the State 18 
General Fund or the State Highway Fund is hereby authorized 19 
during Fiscal Year 2023-2024 by the Division of Health Care 20 
Financing and Policy of the Department of Health and Human 21 
Services for the same purposes as set forth in subsection 1. 22 
 Sec. 18.  The provisions of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any 23 
additional expenses of a local government that are related to the 24 
provisions of this act.  25 
 Sec. 19.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2023. 26 
 
H