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NHA offers testimony at recent bill hearings
- Opposition to LB 65 – Change the statute of repose for the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act
- Opposition to LB 253 – Adopt the Motorcycle Safety and Training Act and change motorcycle helmet provisions
- Testimony provided by Kermit Moore, Director of Nursing, Nemaha County Hospital
- Support of LB 262 – Change automobile insurance provisions
- Support of LB 292 – Provide for transfers of county funds for Medicaid purposes
- LB292 advanced to general file on 2/22/07 with no dissenting votes
- Neutral on LB 450 - Provide immunity for employer disclosure of certain employee information
- Support of LB 469 – Change funding restrictions under the Nebraska Health Care Funding Act
- Support of LB 480 – Change provisions relating to the Nebraska Health Care Funding Act
- Support of LB 518 – Change provisions relating to the eligibility of children under the Medical Assistance Act
- Support of LB 569 - Change tax levy authority relating to hospital districts
- Testimony provided by Jim Parks, COO, Box Butte General Hospital
- Support of LB 575 – Exempt assisted-living facilities from sales and use taxes
- Support of LB 617 – Change provisions relating to children’s behavioral health
- Opposition to LB 673 – Modify the definition of malpractice or professional neglect to include sexual abuse, misconduct, or exploitation
- Support of LR 10 – Urge Nebraska’s congressional delegation to ensure that Congress timely reauthorizes the State Children Health Insurance Program
Smoking ban press call Tuesday
The Nebraska American Cancer Society, High Plains Division, Inc., has set up a press call that will include the managing partner of the polling firm to walk through the results of the official release of the smoke free air survey and polling results.
Copies of the slide presentation on the poll results will be delivered to all senators’ offices on Wednesday morning before debate begins.
For more information contact David Holmquist, Director of Government Relations, Nebraska American Cancer Society, High Plains Division, Inc., (402) 423-4888 ext. 4103 or
david.holmquist@cancer.org.
Legislature looks into medical billing policy
Senators took on doctors’ billing practices and physician ethics Wednesday, listening as pathologists and dermatologists took opposite sides.
The disagreement centered on a bill (LB513) that would require laboratories to charge patients and insurers directly to avoid the possibility of doctors marking up charges for certain lab work.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tony Fulton, after hearing testimony, said he was even more convinced of the need for the bill. “I believe LB513 will, first and foremost, help reduce health care costs.”
According to testimony, some doctors negotiate discounted prices for Pap tests and biopsies, called anatomic pathology services, and then mark up the cost when billing patients, sometimes by 75 to 100 percent. A 1984 federal law prohibits the markup practice for Medicare or Medicaid patients.
But some doctors have continued the markup practice for some patients not receiving Medicare or Medicaid. Dr. Gene Herbek, a pathologist at Omaha’s Methodist Hospital, said 12 other states, including Iowa, have passed laws against the practice.
Herbek, who supports the bill, said there is frustration within the medical community over the issue and that pathologists have come to the Legislature because attempts to stop the practice through discussions, and to bring the two sides to a mediator, have failed.
But Omaha dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, an opponent of the bill, said the legislation could make the prices of such laboratory services go higher, as they have for Medicare patients.
Dr. Les Spry, speaking for the Nebraska Medical Association, which opposes the bill, said he believes the practice is unethical. But the issue should be decided by the state Board of Medicine and Surgery, which regulates physicians, he said, not by the Legislature.
— Read the complete Lincoln Journal Star article by JoAnne Young online at http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/02/22/news/politics/doc45dd04bb332ae122440928.txt.
LB 255 advanced to full Legislature
Earlier today, February 22, 2007, the Business and Labor Committee advanced legislative bill 255 to the full Legislature. We believe LB 255 as advanced addresses one of the most troubling questions left unresolved by Nebraska Supreme Court’s Roseland decision—whether other leave plans, especially sick leave, will be treated the same as vacation, such that it must be paid in cash upon termination of employment. LB 255 would add the following language to the Wage Payment and Collection Act:
“Paid leave, other than earned but unused vacation leave, provided as a fringe benefit by the employer shall not be included in the wages due and payable at the time of separation as provided elsewhere in the Nebraska Wage Payment and Collection Act, unless the employer and the employee or the employer and the collective bargaining representative have specifically agreed otherwise.”
The above language is the result of extensive discussions and negotiations among many interested parties. A special thanks to the following:
State Senator Abbie Cornett—Chair of the Business and Labor Committee, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Nebraska State Chamber, and members of the Committee and the Committee staff that helped craft a workable solution.
Baird Holm is proud to have been involved in this process. Scott S. Moore, David Kramer and Randy Stevenson have all worked through numerous drafts to help reach a consensus bill. We thank the Committee and the other interested parties for allowing us to be a part of this process.
Now that the bill is out of Committee, we urge you to contact your senator and ask that LB 255 be supported in its amended form.
— Labor and Law Employment Alert, Baird Holm LLP, Attorneys at Law, Allison D. Balus, Editor, Feb. 2007.
Solid revenue growth predicted for state
The state’s forecasting board made it official: There will be plenty of state tax revenue for the governor’s meat and potatoes budget plan and his rich dessert of tax cuts.
The advisory board on Friday predicted the state will bring in about $7.054 billion during the next two-year budget cycle, or about $53 million more than previous forecasts.
That’s $53 million more senators can spend on state agencies like the University of Nebraska. Or its $53 million more they can send back to Nebraskans as tax cuts.
Gov. Dave Heineman offered some simple advice: Don’t spend it.
— Read the complete Lincoln Journal Star article by Nancy Hicks online at http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/02/24/news/politics/doc45df685d631f9142184366.txt.
Hearing schedule for Feb.
26-March 2
Monday, February 26
LB 265 (Business & Labor) Change various provisions of the Employment Security Law
LB 500 (Business & Labor) Change provisions relating to disqualifications for unemployment benefits
LR 11CA (General Affairs) Constitutional amendment to change the distribution of lottery proceeds
Tuesday, February 27
LB 55 (Appropriations) Change provisions governing funding of home visitation, child, and parenting programs
LB 56 (Appropriations) Appropriate funds for alcohol-related birth defects prevention programs
LB 71 (Appropriations) Appropriate funds for a child advocacy center
LB 85 (Banking) Create the Nebraska Health Insurance Policy Coalition
LB 134 (Banking) Require insurance coverage of colorectal cancer screenings
LB 229 (Appropriations) Appropriate funds for developmental disability aid
LB 281 (Appropriations) Appropriate funds for federally qualified community health centers
LB 647 (Banking) Change provisions relating to insurance coverage of mental health and physical health conditions
Wednesday, February 28
LB 452 (Appropriations) Appropriate funds for drug abuse prevention and education programs
LB 477 (Government) Change contribution levels for state and political subdivision employee health plans
Thursday, March 1
LB 104 (Judiciary) Change age of majority from nineteen to eighteen
LB 112 (Judiciary) Provide for the judicial emancipation of minors
Friday, March 2 – Recess Day
NHA Advocacy Day
almost here!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Cornhusker Marriott Hotel
Lincoln, NE
The Nebraska Hospital Association’s annual Advocacy Day event is fast approaching! There are only 2 more weeks to register. Your participation is important so
Register
TODAY!
If you have questions about NHA Advocacy Day, please contact Kris Claussen, Office Administrator, at 402/742-8145 or
kclaussen@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. Angela Barry, editor, at
402/742-8143, or email, abarry@nhanet.org.
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