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Rotunda Archive
April 16, 2007
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Legislative Bill Status
Advocacy News
Email Your
State Senator
Other Advocacy Resources
Where to get current legislative news
The NHA Web site Advocacy page has valuable information resources for your advocacy efforts, including:
The Unicameral Web site
has been redesigned and includes comprehensive information about the senators, bill status, legislative calendar and news.
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.
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LB 292 will bring millions of federal dollars to Nebraska hospitals
 Lincoln, NE — Legislative Bill 292, sponsored by Sen. Tom Hansen (North Platte) was signed into law by Gov. Dave Heineman on April 4, 2007. LB 292 was unanimously approved at every stage of debate and is part of an overall solution that will generate approximately $8 million in new federal funds for Nebraska hospitals annually.
Sen. Hansen, along with the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) and its member hospitals, Sens. Joel Johnson (Kearney) and John Harms (Scottsbluff), and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) championed LB 292 for disproportionate share hospitals.
"This bill will help both rural and urban hospitals that serve more than their share of under-insured and uninsured Nebraskans. The rural primary care hospitals are a vital part of the underlying strength and stability of their community and this bill will provide the funding source to make that happen," Sen. Hansen stated.
Pictured from left to right at the Wednesday April 11th ceremonial signing of LB 292 are: Christine Peterson, Nebraska Health and Human Services (HHS), Carly Runestad, Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA), Margaret Booth, HHS, Sen. John Harms (Scottsbluff), David Burd, NHA, Governor Dave Heineman, Sen. Tom Hansen (North Platte), Laura Redoutey, President of NHA, and Cec Brady,
HHS.
Read the full press release from the Nebraska Hospital Association.
Review additional news reports on the passage of LB 292 at
Governor Dave Heineman’s Web site
— North Platte Bulletin
Doctors could say 'I'm sorry' without worries of lawsuits
Lincoln, Neb. (AP) - Doctors could apologize for mistakes and not worry about it leading to malpractice lawsuits under a bill (LB373) that was set to be debated Monday by lawmakers. A health care provider's apology or other expression of sympathy, condolence or a "general sense of benevolence" could not be used as an admission of liability in court. Statements of fault, however, could be used in court.
Proponents say apology laws bring down the number of malpractice claims filed in states that have them. Sen. DiAnna Schimek of Lincoln introduced the measure. Twenty-nine states have such laws in place.
— Associated Press, April 16, 2007.
Home care legislation advances in Neb. Legislature
(Omaha World-Herald) -- On Monday, state lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a bill that would help more disabled and elderly Nebraskans live longer in their own homes. LB236 advanced in a 40-0 first-round vote. It makes it clear that those hired to help with daily living activities ranging from cooking a meal to helping with a bath do not have to be nurses or medication aides, as long as they do not exercise medical or nursing judgment.
Under the measure, in-home personal service agencies would have to check the criminal backgrounds and driving records of those they employ. The in-home services industry sought legislation clarifying which services they can provide without having medical staff, and agreed to the background check requirement. Introduced by State Sen. Joel Johnson of Kearney, the proposal would save people money because they would not have to hire workers with medical training to perform tasks that are not medical in nature.
— Nebraska Chamber Daily Update, April 3, 2007.
Some fearing lack of planning for retirement boom
(McClatchy Newspapers) -- A study whose findings were released last month by the Center on Aging & Work at Boston College found that of 578 companies and organizations surveyed, only 12% have an in-depth strategy for surviving the exodus of tens of millions of boomers from the workforce. More than a quarter haven't thought much at all about how such labor shortages might affect them. Why have some business leaders been ignoring the warnings? Most business planners are focused on the current and next quarter, experts say. But employee shortages already have begun to appear in certain sectors, such as manufacturing, health care and education, the study found. But most professions will feel the pinch by about 2012.
The report suggests that company leaders assess the age and skills of employees in each department, then figure out what areas of operation might be most vulnerable to mass retirements and create programs to encourage older workers to stay, or at least delay their exit. Experts advise that it's important to consider flexible work options, such as telecommuting, flexible scheduling and part-time benefits. And by all means, the report says, cross-train key workers. The study indicated, for example, that 40% of companies already are in "short supply" of employees with management skills. A Boston College analyst said: "The reality is that boomers are going to change the social institution of retirement as they did other institutions as they came along. Now it's up to employers to help them find ways to continue to contribute."
— Nebraska Chamber Daily Update, April 4, 2007.
Blair Enterprise debates LB 395
Smoke ban opt-out? The current debate in the Nebraska Legislature about adopting a statewide ban on smoking, but allowing local governments to opt out of the ban, has generated a lot of discussion around the state, including in The Enterprise newsroom, where editorial writers find themselves on opposite sides of the issue.
Here are their perspectives.
Smoking cartoons on display at the Capitol
An exhibition of original newspaper cartoons compiled by Alan Blum, M.D., one of the nation’s foremost authorities on the history of the tobacco industry and the battle over smoking, will be on display in the first floor State Capitol Rotunda, April 9-22.
A press conference was held Wednesday, April 11 in the Capitol Rotunda. Speakers included Nebraska Medical Association President Rowen Zetterman, M.D., Lincoln Journal Star Editorial Cartoonist Paul Fell and Larry Voegele, a former smoker.
The exhibit is curated from material at the University of Alabama Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society, founded and directed by Dr. Blum. The exhibit retraces the 40-year battle over the use and promotion of cigarettes since the publication of the landmark surgeon general’s report on smoking and health in 1964.
View samples of Paul Fell’s cartoons available at the exhibit.
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. Christy Rasmussen, editor, at
402/742-8151, or email, crasmussen@nhanet.org.
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