1. An out-of-network provider shall accept or reject an amount paid pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 439B.748 or paragraph (c) of subsection 1 or subsection 2 of NRS 439B.751 as payment in full for the medically necessary emergency services for which the payment was offered within 30 days after receiving the payment. If an out-of-network provider fails to comply with the requirements of this section, the amount paid shall be deemed accepted as payment in full for the medically necessary emergency services for which the payment was offered 30 days after the out-of-network provider received the payment.

2. If an out-of-network provider rejects the amount paid as payment in full, the out-of-network provider must request from the third party an additional amount which, when combined with the amount previously paid, the out-of-network provider is willing to accept as payment in full for the medically necessary emergency services.

3. If the third party refuses to pay the additional amount requested by the out-of-network provider pursuant to subsection 2 or fails to pay that amount within 30 days after receiving the request for the additional amount, the out-of-network provider must request a list of five randomly selected arbitrators from an entity authorized by regulations of the Director of the Department to provide such arbitrators. Such regulations must require:

(a) For claims of less than $5,000, the use of arbitrators who will conduct the arbitration in an economically efficient manner. Such arbitrators may include, without limitation, qualified employees of the State and arbitrators from the voluntary program for the use of binding arbitration established in the judicial district pursuant to NRS 38.255 or, if no such program has been established in the judicial district, from the program established in the nearest judicial district that has established such a program.

(b) For claims of $5,000 or more, the use of arbitrators from nationally recognized providers of arbitration services, which may include, without limitation, the American Arbitration Association, JAMS or their successor organizations.

4. Upon receiving the list of randomly selected arbitrators pursuant to subsection 3, the out-of-network provider and the third party shall each strike two arbitrators from the list. If one arbitrator remains, that arbitrator must arbitrate the dispute concerning the amount to be paid for the medically necessary emergency services. If more than one arbitrator remains, an arbitrator randomly selected from the remaining arbitrators by the entity that provided the list of arbitrators pursuant to subsection 3 must arbitrate that dispute.

5. The out-of-network provider and the third party shall participate in binding arbitration of the dispute concerning the amount to be paid for the medically necessary emergency services conducted by the arbitrator selected pursuant to subsection 4. The out-of-network provider or third party may provide the arbitrator with any relevant information to assist the arbitrator in making a determination.

6. The arbitrator shall require:

(a) The out-of-network provider to accept as payment in full for the provision of the medically necessary emergency services, except for any copayment, coinsurance or deductible that the coverage requires the covered person to pay for the services when provided by an in-network provider, the amount paid by the third party pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 439B.748 or paragraph (c) of subsection 1 or subsection 2 of NRS 439B.751, as applicable; or

(b) The third party to pay the additional amount requested by the out-of-network provider pursuant to subsection 2.

7. If the arbitrator requires:

(a) The out-of-network provider to accept the amount paid by the third party pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 439B.748 or paragraph (c) of subsection 1 or subsection 2 of NRS 439B.751, as applicable, as payment in full for the provision of the medically necessary emergency services, except for any copayment, coinsurance or deductible that the coverage requires the covered person to pay for the services when provided by an in-network provider, the out-of-network provider must pay the costs of the arbitrator.

(b) The third party to pay the additional amount requested by the out-of-network provider pursuant to subsection 2, the third party must pay the costs of the arbitrator.

8. An out-of-network provider or a third party must pay its own attorney’s fees incurred during the process prescribed by this section.

9. Interest does not accrue on any claim for which an offer of payment is rejected pursuant to subsection 1 for the period beginning on the date of the rejection and ending 30 days after the arbitrator renders a decision.

10. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and NRS 439B.760, any decision of an arbitrator pursuant to this section and any documents associated with such a decision are confidential and are not admissible as evidence during a legal proceeding, including, without limitation, a legal proceeding between the third party and the out-of-network provider. The decision of an arbitrator and any documents associated with such a decision may be disclosed and are admissible as evidence during a legal proceeding to enforce the decision.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 323, effective January 1, 2020)