Rotunda Archive

March 13, 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 support or opposition at bill hearings

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

• LB 93 - Prohibit smoking in a motor vehicle with an occupant under sixteen years of age. View
• LB 476 - Adopt the Center for Student Leadership and Extended Learning Act. View
• LB 557 - Provide for a fair share representation contribution from employees who are not members of the labor union. 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 March 17 – 20

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.


Wednesday, March 18

• LB 285  (Judiciary) - Change Sex Offender Registration Act provisions
• LB 499 (Judiciary) - Allow breast-feeding as prescribed

Thursday, March 19

• LB 383  (Judiciary) - Provide for limited immunity from prosecution under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act
• LB 617 (Revenue) - Change provisions relating to county community buildings, authorize a community building district, and authorize a sales and use tax

Friday, March 20

• LB 385 (Revenue) - Terminate sales tax provisions
• LB 386 (Revenue) - Change and suspend sales tax exemptions, change collection fees, change tax rates, state intent relating to property tax relief

Click here click here to access the Unicameral's bill finder.


 

Register today for March 31 Advocacy Day

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

This half-day workshop will provide health care advocates with important information about state legislative issues. Scheduled speakers include:

• Governor Dave Heineman
• Rhonda Hawks, Chair, Behavioral Health Oversight Commission, Founder, Hawks Foundation
• Steve Wengel, M.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Susan Boust, M.D. University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc, Dean of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Paul Muraca, AHA Regional Executive
• Laura J. Redoutey, FACHE, NHA President
• Bruce Rieker, NHA Vice President, Advocacy
• Cora Micek, NHA Advocacy Coordinator

Registration is $30 per person. To register online for Advocacy Day, click here. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. 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.


 

Midwifery changes proposed

The Health and Human Services Committee heard three bills March 5 that propose changes to laws governing the practice of midwifery in Nebraska.

LB 406, introduced by Lincoln Senator Tony Fulton, would add certified nurse midwife (CNM) to the list of practitioners who cannot be denied clinical privileges based solely on the type of credential held.

LB 457, introduced by Omaha Senator Mike Friend, would remove a requirement that a CNM have a written agreement with a supervising physician in order to practice.

LB 481, introduced by Malcolm Senator Ken Haar, would remove the prohibition on a CNM attending a home delivery. Read more.

— Unicameral Update, March 6, 2009
 

Budget could mean 400 state job losses

LINCOLN— More than 400 state workers could lose their jobs if the Legislature’s preliminary budget doesn’t change, union leaders told state senators Thursday.

The Appropriations Committee did not include enough money in its preliminary budget to fully fund the negotiated 2.5 percent raises, plus health insurance costs. Governor Dave Heineman also did not fully fund salary increases in his budget recommendations early this year.

The committee budget proposal, with a $20 million base cut, would mean a loss of 437 state jobs, or about 2.5 percent of the state’s 16,400 full-time work force, excluding the University of Nebraska and state college system, union leaders said.

— Lincoln Journal Star, March 12, 2009

 

First White House health forum kicks off in Michigan

DEARBORN, Mich.—The White House on Thursday kicked off a series of regional health forums in Michigan by emphasizing that reforming health care is yet another way to help the nation's struggling economy. The forum was moderated by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. Doctors, patients, insurers, policy experts and health care advocates were in the audience. Read more.

— AP/Yahoo News, March 13, 2009

 

The politics of "card check"

WASHINGTON—"Caught between Big Business and Big Labor." That's how Politico, DC's top political journal, describes the dilemma of moderate Democrats as the Employee Free Choice Act (aka "card check") battle heats up. And it's the moderate Democrats, along with Senate Republicans, who hold the key.

This is likely to be the toughest, most divisive issue for Congress this year—even for lawmakers who supported it last year as they stay out of the fray until it's clear the bill has legs this time. Business community, hospitals and the others unions are targeting have a strong case on fairness issues and the negative effect "card check" will have on economic recovery. But unions were big players in the election and are pressing hard. Strong employee relations are key. And everyone needs to get on the record early with representatives and senators. AHA members can look to www.aha.org (click "Employee Relations" under "Issues") for resources and support.

— Rich Umbdenstock, AHA President and CEO, AHA News Now, March 13, 2009

 

Bill would help nurses who teach repay student loans

WASHINGTON—Legislation introduced yesterday by Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Tom Latham (R-IA) would establish a federal student loan repayment program for nurses who obtain a graduate degree in nursing and agree to teach full-time at an accredited nursing school for at least four years.

The program would repay up to $40,000 in student loans for nurses who obtain a master’s degree and up to $80,000 for those who receive a doctoral degree. Despite a growing national shortage of nurses, nursing schools last year turned away nearly 50,000 qualified applicants, primarily due to a faculty shortage.

The AHA’s American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) subsidiary supports the legislation, called the Nurses’ Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act (H.R. 1460). AONE President Donna Herrin said, “There continues to be an acute need for faculty in colleges of nursing across the nation, and given the economic pressures in most states and the impact to higher education, support for those interested in faculty roles is critical.”

— AHA News Now, March 13, 2009



Note: There will not be a Rotunda Review on Friday, March 20, 2009.

AHA Annual Membership Meeting


Join your colleagues April 26–29 in Washington, D.C., at the 2009 AHA Annual Membership Meeting to hear the latest on the forces buffeting health care, and to take hospitals’ message to Capitol Hill. The agenda includes prominent keynote speakers such as former Nightline host Ted Koppel, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher and former Secretary of State James Baker ... executive briefings on important health care topics, an opportunity to earn ACHE credits … and more!
 

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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