Rotunda Archive

January 22, 2007

Email Your State Senator

Other Advocacy Resources

NHA Policy Development Committee makes recommendations

The NHA Policy Development Committee met via conference call on Jan. 18 and recommended the following positions on hospital related bills:

• Support LB 4 – Provide income tax credits for long-term care insurance
• Support LB 6 – Adopt the Nebraska Safe Haven Act
• Support LB 52- Create a task force to examine the prescription and administration of certain drugs to children who are wards of the state
• Support LB 53 – Prohibit smoking in certain foster care homes
• Support LB 103 – Authorize release of patient information and change provisions relating to regional trauma advisory boards
• Support LB 203 – Authorize release of patient information and change provisions relating to regional trauma advisory boards
• Monitor LB 244 – Change provisions relating to transportation of patients in ambulances
• Support LB 264 – Adopt the Volunteer Emergency Responders Incentive Act and provide for an income tax credit
• Oppose LB 157 – Provide for leaving an infant with a firefighter or hospital staff member (see LB 6 position statement on NHA Web site)
• Support LB 296 – Reorganize the Nebraska Health and Human Services System
• Support LB 395 – Adopt a new Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act
• Support with modification LB 308 – Adopt the Automated Medication System Act (needs leniency for small rural hospitals)

NHA offers testimony at recent bill hearings

• Support of LB 6 – Adopt the Nebraska Safe Haven Act
• Opposition to LB 157 – Provide for leaving an infant with a firefighter or hospital staff member
• Support of LB 52 – Create a task force to examine the prescription and administration of certain drugs to children who are wards of the state
• Support of LB 53 – Prohibit smoking in certain foster care homes

Hearing schedule for Jan. 22-26

Health and Human Services Committee

Weds. Jan. 24
LB 244 (Flood) – Change provisions relating to transportation of patients in ambulances
LB 245 (Johnson) – Change provisions relating to fluoridation of drinking water
LB 283 (Stuthman) – Provide for biennial renewal of medication aide registrations
LB 374 (Johnson, Erdman) – Change repayment provisions for rural health education loans

Thurs. Jan. 25
LB 250 (Synowiecki) – Create a religious exemption from mandatory infant screening tests
LB 267 (McGill) – Authorize participation in the child care subsidy program and the provision of certain subsidies.
LB 308 (Stuthman) – Adopt the Automated Medication System
LB 326 (Flood, at the request of the Governor) – Change eligibility provisions for certain types of public assistance
LB 351 (Stuthman, Erdman) – Change and provide for transitional public assistance payments

Fri. Jan. 26
LB 49 (Hudkins) – Adopt the Mercury Vaccine and Drug Act

HHSS completes merger that started 10 years ago

Controversy surrounded the merger of four state agencies and part of a fifth 10 years ago into what was called the Health and Human Services System.

“It was a major change and there was lots of concern and objection,” said Kim Robak, who was the lieutenant governor and in charge of the merger plan a decade ago.

Senators created a system with three separate divisions and a five-member committee at the helm

A few people did suggest that the state should make sure services improve with the reorganization during a hearing Thursday before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee on the reorganization plan (LB296).

Read the complete story by Nancy Hicks online.

-- Lincoln Journal Star, Jan. 19, 2007.

State could follow Lincoln down smoke-free path

Waverly’s Trackside Bar enjoys the benefits of the Lincoln smoking ban, attracting customers who travel from the Capital City to smoke a cigarette with a glass of beer.

But three state senators are trying to change that, introducing a bill Tuesday that would use Lincoln’s law as a model to ban smoking across the state at all workplaces, including bars and restaurants.

“It would be very harsh on business for us,” said Katie Bennett, a waitress at the Trackside.

The bar is packed on Friday and Saturday nights, she said, thanks in part to the Lincoln smoking ban.

And if Waverly and the rest of the state had to join Lincoln bars and restaurants, some of the Trackside business would disappear.

Sen. Joel Johnson of Kearney joined Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island and Sen. Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center in introducing LB395, which would make it illegal to smoke in a workplace or any indoor public place.

Read the complete story by JoAnne Young online.

-- Lincoln Journal Star, Jan. 17, 2007.

-- See the related news release from the American Lung Association and American Cancer Society.

Lawmakers to weigh in on 705 bills

Nebraska lawmakers finished 2007 bill introductions Wednesday with 705 proposals to consider in the 90-day session, the fewest number in 24 years.

Speaker Mike Flood of Norfolk credited the decline - down 20 percent since 1997 - to 22 new lawmakers, most of whom were elected after term limits forced their predecessors to retire.

Lawmakers tend to carry more bills as they gain experience, he said.

"The longer you're in the Legislature, the more projects you pick up," he said.

Flood said lobbyists found it more difficult to find senators to carry legislation for them.

"I think a lot of lobbyists were told no this year by a group of very thoughtful, well-prepared new legislators," he said.

More than a third of this year's bills - 243 - were introduced Wednesday, the final day for bill introductions.

Read the complete story by Leslie Reed online at http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2315354 (free registration required).

-- Omaha World Herald, Jan. 18, 2007.

Senators propose safe haven law

Nebraska may be one of the lonely holdouts on the safe haven issue — one of just three states that don’t have a law allowing mothers to take unwanted newborns to local hospitals or fire stations.

Two state senators, Rich Pahls of Omaha and Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center, have proposed safe-haven measures that would put Nebraska into the mainstream.

The measure allows mothers who need anonymity — undocumented immigrants, teens, women involved with violent partners — to remain anonymous, Pahls said.

Such a law could reduce the number of infants abandoned in trash bins or toilets, said Sara Juster, a vice president at the Methodist Health System.

Read the complete story by Nancy Hicks online.

-- Lincoln Journal Star, Jan. 18, 2007.

-- See NHA testimony on bill.

Report: Poverty is top concern for state's children

To do right by its children and future generations, Nebraska needs to end the cycle of poverty affecting 178,000 of the state’s children, says Voices for Children in Nebraska.

Wednesday, the statewide child advocacy organization issued its 14th annual Kids Count report that looks at the well-being of Nebraska’s children in terms of family income, health insurance, graduation rates, dropout rates, juvenile crime, foster care, teen pregnancy and other statistical data.

“We firmly believe poverty is the underpinning of so many other problem areas,” Moore said.

Twelve percent of Nebraska’s children live in poverty, as poverty is defined by federal guidelines.

Another 22 percent of Nebraska’s children live on the brink of poverty, according to Kids Count.

Read the complete story by Erin Anderson online.

-- Lincoln Journal Star, Jan. 17, 2007.

Former Douglas County employees seek pay for unused sick leave

In October, four former employees of an Omaha business secured a groundbreaking Nebraska Supreme Court decision that cemented a departing employee's right to be reimbursed for vacation he has earned but hasn't used.

Now, four former employees of Douglas County are trying to take that case one step further.

The four, former attorneys in the Douglas County Attorney's Office, want to be reimbursed for their unused sick leave, too.

It's a request that is turning heads, and stomachs, of policymakers and paycheck writers in both the public and private sectors.

Government officials, business owners and labor attorneys have been bracing for what might come on the heels of the Oct. 20 Supreme Court ruling concerning vacation leave. Two state senators have introduced bills that would rewrite state law to allow bosses to decide whether workers are entitled to unused vacation pay, among other benefits.

And labor attorneys are rewriting hundreds of benefit policies for concerned employers.

"This is probably as significant an employment decision as the Nebraska Supreme Court has made in years," said Omaha attorney David Kramer, who represents employers. "And it goes straight to an employer's bottom line.

"If it is determined that sick leave should be treated the same as vacation leave, it's going to cost employers across the state millions and millions of dollars."

Read the complete story by Todd Cooper online at http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2314078 (free registration required).

-- Omaha World Herald, Jan. 16, 2007.

-- See related story by Clarence Mabin in the Lincoln Journal Star.

Save the date: NHA Advocacy Day, March 21, 2007

The Nebraska Hospital Association’s annual Advocacy Day event is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln.

After the meeting introduction by NHA Board Chairman, Cal Hiner, administrator of Tri County Hospital, Bruce Rieker, NHA vice president, advocacy, will provide a state legislative update, highlighting the key issues for NHA members.

New HHSS CEO Chris Peterson will then present the status of Medicaid reform and health care priorities of the state.

Following Ms. Peterson, AHA Regional Executive Paul Muraca will discuss the AHA’s unified health plan and federal agenda.

Molly Nance, senior director of communication and education will provide communication points for you to discuss with your senator, then recognize the 2006 Advocacy Team of the Year.

The morning session will be followed by a luncheon with Nebraska senators where you will have the opportunity to discuss legislative issues with your senator.

Invitations will be mailed in February. If you have questions about NHA Advocacy Day, please contact Kris Claussen, Office Administrator, at 402/742-8145 or kclaussen@nhanet.org. 

Did YOUR hospital Advocacy Team excel in 2006?

Did you meet with your state senator several times during the 2006 Legislative Session? Did you offer input regarding Medicaid reform, workers comp, or other health care concerns? Did your employees call or write to support hospital issues?

Let us know that your hospital team deserves the NHA Advocacy Team of the Year award, which will be presented at NHA Advocacy Day, March 21.

It only takes a few minutes to complete the nomination form. Recognize the advocacy efforts of your hospital staff and send in your nomination today.

For more information, please contact Molly Nance, senior director of communication and education, at 402-742-8151 or mnance@nhanet.org. 

Where to get current legislative news

The NHA Web site Advocacy page has valuable information resources for your advocacy efforts, including:

Rotunda 2007

The NHA will provide weekly legislative updates through Rotunda Review and you may monitor bills on the Advocacy page of the NHA Web site. Please watch your email for VoterVOICE calls to action. If you have questions or concerns about any state legislation, please contact Bruce Rieker, vice president, advocacy, at 402/742-8146 or brieker@nhanet.org; or Carly Runestad, director of health policy, at 402/742-8153 or crunestad@nhanet.org. 

NHA testimony presented at the hearings can be found on the NHA Web site Advocacy Page-Bill Status.

NHA Rotunda Review is published by the Nebraska Hospital Association, 3255 Salt Creek Circle, Lincoln, NE 68504. Phone (402) 742-8140, Fax (402) 742-8191. Visit our Web site at http://www.nhanet.org. Molly Nance, editor, at 402/742-8151, or email, mnance@nhanet.org.

Back To Main