Nevada panel considers health standards and sanctions

Nevada Health Division Administrator Richard Whitley has told lawmakers that new laws could streamline oversight and responses to a public health threat such as the hepatitis C outbreak that prompted a massive patient notification effort earlier this year. Officials should be able to issue cease-and-desist orders if they believe the public is at risk from a practice or procedure at an outpatient clinic or hospital, and health facilities should be penalized for not "self-reporting" problems, Whitley said. The state's Legislative Committee on Health Care is considering introducing a series of measures during the 2009 Legislature to revamp the reporting and handling of community health problems.