Rotunda Archive

January 29, 2007

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NHA Board approves positions on upcoming legislation

At the NHA Board meeting on Jan. 25, the directors affirmed, with a few modifications, the NHA advocacy positions on the following bills. This list is not all inclusive, but reflects the bills reviewed to date:

NHA Advocacy position.

NHA offers testimony at recent bill hearings

• Support of LB 103 – Release of patient data to health care providers
• Opposition to LB 118 – Change the Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool Act.
• Support of LB LB 192 – Adopt the Access College Early Scholarship Program Act
• Support of LB 203 – Provide an informal conference process for disciplinary action regarding health care facilities
• Opposition to LB 250 – Create religious exemption from mandatory infant screening tests
• Support of LB 264 – Adopt the Volunteer Emergency Responders Incentive Act and provide for an income tax credit
• Support of LB 270 – Exclude certain rural health educational loan repayments from income taxation.(Marty Fattig, CEO, Nemaha County Hospital, A)
• Support for LB 304 – Change qualifications for tax credits relating to long-term care insurance
• Support with amendments LB 308 – Adopt the Automated Medication System Act (testimony provided by Allen Van Driel, CEO, Harlan County Health System)
• Opposition to LB 326 – Change eligibility provisions for certain types of public assistance
• Support of LB 374 – Change repayment provisions for rural health education loans.

Hearing schedule for Jan. 29 – Feb. 2

Tuesday, January 30
LB 297 (Transportation) Eliminate a requirement relating to telecommunications surcharge
LB 330 (Transportation) Change the Nebraska Telecommunications Regulation Act

Wednesday, January 31
LB 538 (HHS) Change authorized functions for dental hygienists

Thursday, February 1
LB 48 (HHS) Exempt certified registered nurse anesthetists from certain radiation-use qualifications
LB 152 (M) (Judiciary) Change insurer reporting requirements regarding professional liability claims
LB 199 (Government) Changes municipal cooperative financing and open meetings provisions
LB 220 (Judiciary) Provide for medical liens for chiropractors
LB 366 (Revenue) Provide state funding for community colleges, change valuation of agricultural land, and create a homestead exemption
LB 384 (Judiciary) Prohibit certain actions by judgment creditors
LB 385 (HHS) Change provisions relating to advanced practice registered nurses
LB 395 (S) (HHS) Adopt a new Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act
LB 510 (Revenue) Create a homestead exemption and the Scholarship Trust Fund
LB 586 (Judiciary) Change medical lien provisions
LB 622 (Government) Require training courses in public records and the Open Meetings Act for all members of a public body, public officers and public employees

Friday, February 2
LB 411 (HHS) Require standards for training for certain new health and human services employees
LB 461 (HHS) Provide rights for foster parents
LB 491 (S) (Judiciary) Change provisions relating to concealed handguns
LB 695 (Judiciary) Limit the power of cities to regulate the carrying of concealed handguns

Bill seeks to allow first responders to transport patients

In the summer of 2005, it took nearly an hour for a Battle Creek nursing home patient, complaining of chest pains, to get to the hospital in Norfolk.

There were no EMTs immediately available to put the patient into an ambulance, and first responders, with far less training, are prohibited from transporting a patient, said Norfolk Sen. Mike Flood.

“Wouldn’t it be better to get the patient on his or her way to the hospital rather than wait around for an out-of-town agency to respond to the call?” Flood said during a hearing on his bill, which would allow first responders to transport patients.

The nursing home resident would have been at the hospital in 15 minutes if his bill (LB244) had been law, Flood said.

Read the complete story by Nancy Hicks online.

-- Lincoln Journal Star, Jan. 23, 2007.

Bikers push for no-helmet law

The tailor-cut suits and clean-shaven profiles favored by many lobbyists were replaced by leather jackets and scraggly beards in the halls of the Capitol Monday morning.

More than 100 bikers from as far away as Scottsbluff piled into government headquarters to lobby for the no-helmet law (LB253) that tops their legislative agenda.

After several failed attempts, some supporters of a law that would allow people to ride without helmets say this is the year that “freedom” will prevail. The state director of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, Larry Schutt, said the bill introduced this year by Sen. Kent Rogert of Tekamah is particularly well written. Plus, there are 22 new state senators who will bring fresh eyes to the issue.

The bill would let everybody 21 years and older go helmet-free, while drivers ages 16 through 20 would have to wear helmets and take safety courses. The bill also proposes that those who don’t wear eye protection be fined a minimum of $75.

“It’s just the freedom of it,” Dennis Frey, sporting a two-foot long beard and leathers, said about the appeal of riding without a helmet. He drove to Lincoln from Genoa Sunday night for the Capitol rally.

“Especially in the summertime when it’s 105 degrees and you’re wearing a black helmet. It’s kind of uncomfortable.”

-- Story by Nate Jenkins, Lincoln Journal Star, Jan. 22, 2007.

The NHA opposes this bill because of the potential for increased deaths and serious injury resulting from motorcycle accidents in which the rider did not wear a helmet. Please see the joint letter from NHA and NMA opposing LB 253.

Governor's cost-saving plan cuts aid to legal, non-citizen immigrants

Nebraska law makes legal, non-citizen immigrants eligible for Medicaid, food stamps and other aid programs. Gov. Dave Heineman has suggested restricting such assistance programs from lawful immigrants who have been in the country less than five years. Heineman proposed the change as part of his budget recommendations to the Legislature. The Health and Human Services Committee will have a hearing this afternoon on LB326, which would carry out the changes. The bill would shave about $2 million from the $573 million the state expects to spend on Medicaid next year and $780,000 from the $231 million it expects to spend on public assistance programs, according to the governor's budget office. Kathie Osterman, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, said the agency suggested the changes to mirror federal law and to trim the budget. Last year, 677 permanent resident immigrants in Nebraska received Medicaid, according to state records. Of those, 158 also received Aid to Dependent Children and 54 got Assistance for the Aged, Blind and Disabled. There were 355 who received food stamps. Jonathan Blazer, an attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, said: "These are the most vulnerable groups politically. It's a particularly harmful way of balancing the budget."

-- Omaha World Herald, JaN. 24, 2007.

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.

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