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UTILITIES SOUTHWEST GAS GETS APPROVAL TO RAISE RATES By Cy Ryan staff writer C ARSON CITY — The state Public Utilities Commission has voted to permit Southwest Gas to raise its basic service charge by 20 percent for most of its customers. Commission Chairwoman Burtenshaw, Alaina the hearing officer in the case, had recommended the utility be authorized to boost the basic rate from $9 per month to $9.50. But Commissioners Rebecca Wagner and David Noble said the request by Southwest for an increase to $10.80 a month — a 20 percent increase — was justified. The increase will be imposed on single- family homes in Southern and Northern Nevada and on multi-family residences in Northern Nevada. The current $9 per month charge will remain the same for multi-family Nevada. residences in Southern The rates will become effective after the staff of the PUC reviews the plan of Southwest to implement the decision. HEALTH DISTRICT ACCUSED OF UNFAIR PRACTICES IN BUSINESS COURTS By Dave Toplikar staff writer T he Southern Nevada Health Dis- trict is abusing a federal vaccine pro- gram for the poor by unfairly selling the vaccines to the general public and undercutting private competi- tors, an antitrust complaint filed in federal court alleges. The complaint was filed by The Vaccine Center, which offers immu- nization programs in Las Vegas. Jennifer Sizemore, a Health Dis- trict spokeswoman, said SNHD has not yet been served with the com- plaint. Sizemore said she could not comment on active litigation. Codefendants in the complaint are the drug manufacturer, GlaxoSmith- Kline, and Apexus Inc., the manager of the federal 340 Prime Vendor Pro- gram, which was set up by Congress to serve as a safety net for the poor and indigent. Although SNHD's mission is to be a "safety-net" provider to the poor and indigent, it operates a commercial business that generates millions of "SNHD has been able to crush private-sector compe- tition, drive private medical clinics and doctors out of business and monopolize markets." — COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT for fee-based immunization servic- dollars in revenue annually by com- peting against private clinics and doctors for immunization services to the adult, non-Medicaid popula- tion, the complaint says. The complaint says SNHD buys its vaccines at sharply reduced prices from GlaxoSmithKline under the 340B Program. SNHD is skirting the regulations of the program by reselling those cheaper vaccines intended for the poor to the general population at lower costs than its competitors — a violation of the laws governing the program, the complaint says. "SNHD has been able to crush private-sector competition, drive pri- vate medical clinics and doctors out of business and monopolize markets es," the complaint said. The complaint says SNHD has en- tered into lucrative immunization contracts with MGM Resorts Health Plan, Sands Expo and Convention Center, Silver Nugget Gaming LLC, Boulder City and the LVH. The Vaccine Center claims it is the only major remaining competitor to SNHD and that is has suffered a sub- stantial loss of business and revenue in excess of $75,000 at its two Las Ve- gas clinics. The Vaccine Center also claims it has lost the opportunity to expand elsewhere as a result of SN- HD's conduct. The plaintiff is seeking triple dam- ages, punitive damages and an in- junction against the defendants. SOLUTIONS AT W O R K ® you have a reason to call us. If you have employees, 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway • Suite 950 • Las Vegas, NV 89169 • 702.252.3131 www.laborlawyers.com AtlAntA Boston chArlotte chicAgo clevelAnd columBiA | 12 NOVEMBER 2012 | dAllAs denver fort lAuderdAle houston irvine kAnsAs city lAs vegAs los Angeles louisville memphis new englAnd new jersey new orleAns orlAndo philAdelphiA phoenix portlAnd sAn diego sAn frAncisco tAmpA wAshington,d.c. 11