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Bill

SB 257

Relating to the Psychiatric Security Review Board.

2025 Regular Session

SB 257 broadens who may assess/diagnose ASD under a statewide standard and requires insurers to accept these diagnoses and cover treatment, expanding access to services.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 257

SB 257 (BDR 38-106) — Revises provisions relating to autism (Chapter 387)

Status: Enacted — Approved by the Governor (Chapter 387). Introduced: Feb 3, 2025. Became law upon gubernatorial approval (June 2025).

Main purpose

SB 257 revises Nevada law governing how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is assessed, diagnosed and treated for purposes of state services and insurance coverage. The bill broadens who may perform assessments and requires insurers to accept diagnoses rendered under the new statewide standard.

Key provisions (summary)

  • Changes statewide assessment standard (NRS 427A.872):
    • Replaces prior requirement for a specified protocol and particular standardized instruments with a requirement that the statewide standard require direct observation and an assessment to determine ASD.
    • Authorizes “provider of health care” (as defined in NRS 629.031) acting within their scope of practice to conduct direct observations and assessments for ASD.
  • Early intervention (NRS 427A.878):
    • Replaces references to “evaluation” with “assessment” for children who may have ASD.
    • Requires Division employees and contractors who provide early intervention to have the knowledge and skills to conduct early and periodic developmental screening.
  • Insurance coverage (amendments to statute sections governing public employee plans, disability insurers and related codes including NRS 287.0276, 287.04335, 689A.0435, 689B.0335, 689C.1655, 695C.050, 695C.1717, 695G.1645):
    • Insurers must accept as dispositive any ASD diagnosis rendered in accordance with the statewide standard.
    • Required insurance coverage for ASD diagnosis and treatment applies when diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment are performed by any provider of health care acting within his/her scope of practice (removes prior limiting language that diagnosis/treatment planning had to be performed by specific licensed provider types).
  • Definitions: Establishes that “provider of health care” has the meaning in NRS 629.031 (state licensing/scope rules apply).

Who is affected

  • Children and young adults up to age 21 who seek state services or insurance-covered ASD diagnosis/treatment.
  • Health care providers and payers (private insurers, public employee plans, Medicaid-managed care and disability insurers).
  • Division of Aging and Disability Services, school districts and local government contractors that provide ASD services.
  • Families/caregivers seeking earlier access to diagnosis and services.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Access: Law aims to increase access and reduce diagnostic waitlists by allowing more licensed practitioners to perform assessments (within scope of practice).
  • Quality and risk: Professional groups (Nevada Psychological Association) expressed concerns that broader diagnostic authority could increase misdiagnosis and inappropriate service allocation unless providers have adequate training/competency and use appropriate assessment components (cognitive, language, adaptive functioning).
  • Insurance/federal issues: Nevada Division of Insurance reviewed the bill and concluded the changes likely do not expand the state’s Essential Health Benefits (EHB) benchmark and therefore probably do not trigger federal “defrayal” payments. The bill contains an unfunded mandate note; fiscal impacts on local/state entities are possible but not fully quantified.
  • Implementation: The Division must adopt or revise regulations to implement the new statewide standard and to ensure provider competency, documentation standards, and consistent use across state-contracted providers.

Legislative timeline & status

  • Passed both houses and enrolled; approved by the Governor and enacted as Chapter 387 (June 2025).
  • Implementation will require administrative rulemaking by the Aging & Disability Services Division and coordination with insurers and provider licensing boards to clarify scope/competency expectations.

Stakeholder positions

  • Support: pediatricians, autism advocacy groups, and family advocates argued the bill expands timely access to diagnosis and early intervention.
  • Opposition/concern: Nevada Psychological Association and some clinicians urged safeguards (limits to scope/competency, required training/documentation, safeguards for differential diagnosis).

If you want, I can:
- Extract the exact statute sections amended and produce side-by-side “before/after” language for the major changes; or
- Draft suggested regulatory or statutory amendments that address the competency and documentation concerns raised by professional groups.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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