NRS223.560. Duties of Advocate; authority of Advocate to adopt regulations.

      1.  The Advocate shall:

      (a) Respond to written and telephonic inquiries received from consumers and injured employees regarding concerns and problems related to health care and workers’ compensation;

      (b) Assist consumers and injured employees in understanding their rights and responsibilities under health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, and policies of industrial insurance;

      (c) Identify and investigate complaints of consumers and injured employees regarding their health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, and policies of industrial insurance and assist those consumers and injured employees to resolve their complaints, including, without limitation:

             (1) Referring consumers and injured employees to the appropriate agency, department or other entity that is responsible for addressing the specific complaint of the consumer or injured employee; and

             (2) Providing counseling and assistance to consumers and injured employees concerning health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, and policies of industrial insurance;

      (d) Provide information to consumers and injured employees concerning health care plans, including, without limitation, the Public Employees’ Benefits Program, and policies of industrial insurance in this State;

      (e) Establish and maintain a system to collect and maintain information pertaining to the written and telephonic inquiries received by the Office for Consumer Health Assistance;

      (f) Take such actions as are necessary to ensure public awareness of the existence and purpose of the services provided by the Advocate pursuant to this section;

      (g) In appropriate cases and pursuant to the direction of the Advocate, refer a complaint or the results of an investigation to the Attorney General for further action;

      (h) Provide information to and applications for prescription drug programs for consumers without insurance coverage for prescription drugs or pharmaceutical services;

      (i) Establish and maintain an Internet website which includes:

             (1) Information concerning purchasing prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies that have been recommended by the State Board of Pharmacy for inclusion on the Internet website pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 639.2328;

             (2) Links to websites of Canadian pharmacies which have been recommended by the State Board of Pharmacy for inclusion on the Internet website pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 639.2328; and

             (3) A link to the website established and maintained pursuant to NRS 439A.270 which provides information to the general public concerning the charges imposed and the quality of the services provided by the hospitals and surgical centers for ambulatory patients in this State; and

      (j) Assist consumers with filing complaints against health care facilities and health care professionals. As used in this subsection, “health care facility” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 162A.740.

      2.  The Advocate may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of NRS 223.560 to 223.575, inclusive.

      (Added to NRS by 1999, 1806; A 2003, 1507; 2005, 22nd Special Session, 156; 2007, 2358, 2881; 2009, 559; 2011, 587, 973; 2013, 1614)