Rotunda Archive

May 29, 2007

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Other Advocacy Resources

Where to get current legislative news

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

  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. 

Included in the Governor’s reductions was an $11 million cut ($3.6M in FY 2007-08 and $7.4M in FY 2008-09) to funding for provider rates, which pay providers for a range of services, from foster care to nursing homes. Even with the reduction, the Governor said providers would still receive more money than they did in the current fiscal year. Provider rate increases for the next biennium include:

• Hospitals — 1.95 percent
• Long term care providers — 2.5 percent
• Assisted living facilities — 2.0 percent
• Behavioral health providers — approximately 2.0 percent, rate varies by treatment

The Governor’s other major veto actions include:

• $250,000 increase in General Funds in FY 2007-08 and the $500,000 increase in FY 2008-09 provided to the Board of Regents at the University of Nebraska for the replacement of lost federal funds for the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC’s). According to the Governor, the state cannot set a precedent for picking up lost federal funds of such a magnitude.
• Reduced the General Fund appropriation to the State Treasurer for the Long-Term Care Savings Plan Program by $20,000 for the biennium. This removes the one-time funding originally put in place for only the current fiscal year.
• $100,000 General Funds in FY 2007-08 and 2008-09 support for the nursing faculty loan program in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• $100,000 General Funds in FY 2007-08 and $372,523 General Funds in FY 2008-09 for Behavioral Health Aid in the HHS. The funds are designated as aid to Region VI Behavioral Healthcare as earmarked by the Legislature to provide matching funds for a federal grant received by a specific private provider.
• $290,000 General Funds in each of FY 2007-08 and FY 2008-09 for Community-Based Aging Services.
  

Bill will prohibit carrying concealed weapons in hospitals

Thursday the Legislature amended LB 97 (on Select File) to include hospitals, colleges and universities on the list of places concealed handguns cannot be carried. The original version of LB 97, introduced by Speaker Mike Flood (Norfolk), was intended to repeal provisions related to settlement escrow funds. Through a procedural move Amendment 1485 was inserted into this bill. The amendment adds parochial schools, universities and community colleges to the existing list of places concealed handguns are prohibited. In addition, Sen. Ernie Chambers (Omaha) successfully offered a floor amendment that would add hospitals to the list of areas carrying a concealed weapon will be prohibited. The bill, with these amendments, is now headed to Final Reading.

Workers’ Compensation bill signed by Governor

The Legislature on May 18 voted 43-0 to give final approval to LB 588 a bill to address workers’ compensation and hospital fees. On May 24, the Governor signed it into law. LB 588 addresses workers’ compensation payments to Nebraska’s hospitals in, or within 15 miles of, a metropolitan or primary class city and with 51 or more beds. Rural hospitals will be exempt from the changes made by LB 588. The new inpatient hospital fee schedule, effective January 1, 2008, will be based on a factor of 150 percent Medicare and a 2.5 outlier (stop loss threshold). Trauma services for injuries requiring immediate medical or surgical intervention or treatment to prevent death or permanent disability would be excluded from the fee schedule until January 1, 2010.

The new law also includes language requiring the Workers’ Compensation Court to consider an employees’ loss of earning capacity if simple member disability alone does not accurately assess the employees’ combination of member impairments from the same accident or illness. However, there would need to be a 30 percent loss of earning capacity.

— Nebraska Chamber of Commerce.

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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