Rotunda Archive

January 30, 2009

The Nebraska Hospital Association – Nebraska's influential voice for health care.

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 Cora Micek, Advocacy Coordinator, at (402) 742-8153 or cmicek@nhanet.org. 

NHA offers testimony, letters of recommendation at bill hearings

LINCOLN—The legislature continued hearings on bills this week, many of which the NHA submitted a letter of support or testified, including:

• LB 107 – Require an employer to provide an employee a reason for termination. View
• LB 141 – Adopt the Brain Injury Act. View
• LB 197 – Change provisions relating to the Nebraska educational savings plan. View
• LB 250 – Change physician assistant provisions. View
• LB 290 – Require criminal history background checks on individuals who transport vulnerable adults and children under contracts with the Department of Health and Human Services. View

The NHA will continue to monitor bills of interest and take the necessary actions that best represent its membership. For current advocacy alerts and updates, visit the NHA's Advocacy Action Center.
 

Hearing schedule for Feb. 2 – 6

The following "bills of interest" to NHA members are being heard in committees next week. Behind each bill number is the committee that will hear testimony.

If you would like to share your perspective on a particular bill or are interested in testifying at the hearing, please contact Bruce Rieker, Vice President, Advocacy, at (402) 742-8146 or brieker@nhanet.org, or Cora Micek, Advocacy Coordinator, at (402) 742-8153 or cmicek@nhanet.org.

Monday, February 2

• LB 377 (Banking) – Adopt the Nebraska Governmental Unit Credit Facility Act
• LB 554 (Business) – Prohibit certain employers from requiring use of paid leave under certain circumstances
• LB 579 (Business) – Adopt the Professional Employer Organization Registration Act

Tuesday, February 3

• LB 128 (Urban Affairs) – Authorize the investment of public endowment funds by any city which is authorized by the Constitution of Nebraska to establish a charter
• LB 152 (Banking) – Change a provision relating to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages
• LB 157 (Banking) – Exempt state vehicles from carrying uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
• LB 522 (Urban Affairs) – Change provisions relating to the use of funds by volunteer fire and rescue departments
• LB 523 (Urban Affairs) – Change provisions regarding funds collected by volunteer fire and rescue departments

Wednesday, February 4

• LB 304 (Judiciary) – Change limitation of action provisions under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act
• LB 538 (Revenue) – Exempt government employee retirement benefits from income tax
• LB 624 (Natural Resources) – Provide for energy efficiency loans for public buildings

Thursday, February 5

• LB 117 (Revenue) – Authorize an income tax credit for certain retail business taxpayers
• LB 275 (Health and Human Services) – Require crisis, information, and referral services relating to behavioral health
• LB 346 (Health and Human Services) – Require the Department of Health and Human Services to provide services relating to children's behavioral health and adoption and guardianship families
• LB 376 (Revenue) – Provide an income tax credit for certain qualified residents caring for dependents as prescribed
• LB 519 (Health and Human Services) – Provide for rate increases for behavioral health care providers and create the Provider Reimbursement Rate Commission
• LB 540 (Health and Human Services) – Change membership of the Children's Behavioral Health Task Force
• LB 619 (Health and Human Services) – Change mental health board membership provisions

Friday, February 6

• LB 335 (Revenue) – Require electronic employee verification for certain tax incentives
• LB 337 (Government) – Change restrictions on advertising and promotional materials relating to the Nebraska educational savings plan trust
• LB 395 (Health and Human Services) – Adopt the Stroke Registry Act
• LB 448 (Health and Human Services) – Require an influenza vaccination pilot program
• LB 462 (Health and Human Services) – Change provisions relating to human immunodeficiency virus testing
• LB 611 (Health and Human Services) – Amend the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act to provide cities, villages, and counties the authority to regulate smoking

Click here to view all bills of interest to the NHA. To search for a specific bill, click here to access the Unicameral's bill finder.


 

Sponsorship opportunities available for Advocacy Day

The Nebraska Hospital Association's annual Advocacy Day event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln.

In 2008, 86 hospital representatives gathered at the Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln to learn about legislation that impacts health care delivery in Nebraska. The Advocacy Day luncheon was attended by nearly 200 individuals from across the state, including 38 senators.

If you are interested in sponsoring Advocacy Day, contact Kelley Porter, Director of Communications, at kporter@nhanet.org or (402) 742-8151 or click here.

Health program clarifications advanced

Senators advanced a measure January 26 intended to clarify requirements for a program aimed at encouraging health professionals to locate in shortage areas. LB 196, introduced by Papillion Sen. Tim Gay, would exempt from the state’s open contract requirements student loan and other loan repayment contracts for those participating in the Nebraska Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act. The act is a loan forgiveness program intended to draw professionals to areas of Nebraska with a shortage of health care providers. LB 196 was advanced to select file on a 40-0 vote.

— Unicameral Update, January 23, 2009
 

Bill would require transportation provider background checks

Members of the Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony January 28 on a bill that would require background checks for all state contracted commercial transportation providers.

Platte Center Sen. Arnie Stuthman, sponsor of LB 290, said the bill would prohibit both employees and volunteers who are convicted felons from providing transportation to vulnerable Nebraskans through contracts with the state Department of Health and Human Services.

— Unicameral Update, January 28, 2009
 

Senator Gloor sets a course for the Unicameral

“Where there’s water, there’s sailing.” It might seem like an odd philosophy for a Nebraskan, but Senator Mike Gloor is passionate about sailing. His office shelves are filled with sailing references and his eyes light up when speaking of his hobby of 25 years. Gloor is convinced that one can find great sailing anywhere, even in the Midwest.

In fact, he says, sailboat owners are happy to rent to those from places like Nebraska for one simple reason. “They know how to deal with the wind,” he said.

Most of the time, however, sailing and other hobbies take a back to seat to service for the new senator. Read more.

— Unicameral Update, January 23, 2009

 

House passes economic recovery package with AHA-backed provisions

WASHINGTON—The House Wednesday night voted 244-188 to approve the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1), economic recovery legislation that includes a number of AHA-backed provisions.

To help states facing Medicaid enrollment increases and revenue declines due to the recession, the legislation increases federal matching funds for Medicaid by $89.5 billion through December 2010, including a 2.5 percent increase for Disproportionate Share Hospital allotments. Other provisions extend the moratorium on six Medicaid rules through June 2009, and expand the moratorium to include the Medicaid rule for hospital outpatient services; give state Medicaid programs a temporary option of covering certain unemployed and uninsured individuals; and provide COBRA premium assistance for eligible workers who lose their jobs.

The legislation also reinstitutes through September the Medicare indirect medical education adjustment for teaching hospitals' capital costs; invests $20 billion in infrastructure and Medicare and Medicaid incentives to encourage doctors and hospitals to use health IT; and expands incentives for banks to purchase hospitals' tax-exempt bonds. Next week, the Senate is expected to begin debate on its version of the bill (S.1), which has no Medicaid moratorium language and no money for DSH allotments.

— AHA News Now, January 30, 2009

 

Senate passes SCHIP without self-referral ban

The Senate passed legislation Thursday that would provide federal health benefits to millions of children, setting the stage for President Obama to notch an early victory on a major priority. The chamber voted 66-32 to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

SCHIP already covers 6.7 million children and the $31.5 billion bill would bring the total to nearly 11 million, according to Democrats. The new spending on children’s health care would be financed by higher taxes on tobacco products.

The House-passed version of the bill also funds the coverage with a prospective ban on physician self-referral to facilities in which they have a financial interest, with appropriate grandfathering of existing facilities.

 

Wyden, Crapo and Walden introduce legislation to improve patient access to hospitals in rural, under-served areas of Oregon and nationally

WASHINGTON—Eliminating bureaucratic barriers that made it harder for rural residents and veterans to receive health care, Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Representative Greg Walden (R-Ore.) introduced legislation recently that would improve access to nearly 1,300 hospitals in rural, under-served areas of the nation. Twenty-five of the hospitals are in Oregon.

The Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act of 2009 would give small, rural hospitals greater flexibility in complying with federal regulations in order to better meet the needs of local residents and avoid the high cost of transporting patients to other facilities. Read more.

— U.S. Congress press release, January 22, 2009

 

Senate panel OKs recovery package that protects IME

WASHINGTON—The Senate Finance Committee voted 14-9 last night to approve the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (S.1), sending it to the Senate floor for debate as early as next week.

The bill was amended to include a provision eliminating cuts to Medicare capital indirect medical education payments for fiscal year 2009, as advocated by American Hospital Association (AHA). Other AHA-backed provisions in the economic recovery package include an $87 billion increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, the rate at which the federal government matches states’ Medicaid expenditures, accompanied by a requirement that states protect current Medicaid eligibility, services and methodologies; $25 billion to extend COBRA coverage for the newly unemployed; and $17.9 billion to help providers adopt health information technology. The bill also includes an AHA-backed provision that would make it easier to market tax-exempt bonds in 2009 and 2010, improving hospitals’ access to capital.

— AHA News Now, January 28, 2009


 

For more information about health-related legislative bills or resolutions, contact: Bruce Rieker, Vice President, Advocacy, at (402) 742-8146 or brieker@nhanet.org or Cora Micek, Advocacy Coordinator, at (402) 742-8153 or cmicek@nhanet.org.

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. Kelley Porter, editor, at 402/742-8151, or email, kporter@nhanet.org.

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