Nevada Briefs - September 2002

Nevada Briefs

Tort Reform Takes Effect October 1

Assembly Bill 1, passed during a special three-day session of the Legislature called to address Nevada’s healthcare insurance crisis, takes effect October 1. Highlights of the bill include:

A $350,000 cap on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases.

A $50,000 limitation on damages for hospitals and doctors treating trauma patients.

A "several liability" standard for cases involving non-economic damages.

A shorter statute of limitations for filing medical malpractice cases.

Provisions to allow a judge discretion to enter a judgment providing that money for future damages be paid periodically.

Elimination of medical and dental screening panels.

Strengthening reporting requirements for disciplinary actions, claims and settlements.

A requirement for improved training for judges handling malpractice litigation.

A provision forcing attorneys to personally pay for expenses resulting from unreasonable conduct in civil litigation.

New Carlin Mine Project Planned

Two mining companies are partnering to develop an underground mine on the Carlin Trend in Elko County. Hecla Mining Co. and Great Basin Gold Ltd. announced recently that they have outlined 1 million high-grade gold equivalent ounces at this project, known as Ivanhoe. The new mine is expected to produce 180,000 ounces of gold and 920,000 ounces of silver annually, at a cash cost of $114 per ounce. Rather than build a mill, the developers will ship the ore off-site to be processed. Several other small projects on the Carlin Trend are moving forward, including three by Newmont Mining Corporation – the new Leeville underground mine, an expansion of the Gold Quarry surface mine and a series of open pit mines at Pete.

Good News, Bad News for Nevada’s Tech Industry

While the slowing economy caused Nevada’s technology sector to lose a small percentage of its workforce in 2001, its high-tech payroll topped $1 billion for the first time, according to a report released this summer by the American Electronics Association. Cyberstates 2002 revealed that Nevada was one of 20 states that lost high-tech jobs in 2001, with a drop of 2.3 percent of its workforce, representing 449 jobs statewide. The AEA also reported that the average annual wage for high-tech jobs in Nevada exceeded $50,000 for the first time, and reached $51,652. Nevada is the fourth fastest growing state in the percentage of growth in high-tech exports from 1997 to 2001. During that period, high-tech exports grew from $191 million to $486 million, an increase of almost 154 percent. The report revealed that 58.4 percent of all households in Nevada have a computer, and 52.8 percent have Internet access. The complete report is available online at aeanet.org.

Health Plan of Nevada Program Recognized

The Senior Dimensions Social HMO (SHMO) of Health Plan of Nevada was recently recognized for its Chronic Home Care Program. It received the "2002 Models of Geriatric Care" award from the American Academy of Home Care Physicians, a national organization representing providers who care for patients in a homecare setting. SHMO established the Chronic Home Care Program in 1999, forming home health professional teams and training them to identify and manage the chronic care requirements of clients, including psychological, functional and social needs. An analysis of the initial group of 91 clients showed the program resulted in fewer hospitalizations, notable cost savings and a patient and family satisfaction rate over 98 percent, according to Bonnie Hillegass, vice president for care management at Health Plan of Nevada.