CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada's Democratic state senators said
Tuesday their agenda for the 2009 Legislature will include a plan
to reduce the number of children with no health insurance.

Senate Minority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said the Senate Democrats also want to mandate coverage of autism by insurance companies and improve consumer access to health records.
Also on the agenda is a plan to help employees of small businesses
get insurance.

"These are important times for our state leaders, with record foreclosures and a downturn in the economy that affects the pocketbooks of every Nevada family," Horsford said. "One important thing we can all do together despite these difficult economic times is improve access and transparency in heath care for children, seniors and employees of small businesses."

"Health care is a critical issue for Nevada and will be one of our top priorities during the 2009 Legislative Session," added Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas.

In 2007, 17 percent of Nevada's population, or 450,000 people, were uninsured for the entire year, the lawmakers said, adding that figure doesn't include people who were uninsured for only part of the year and the actual percentage is closer to 20-21 percent.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)