Rotunda Archive

May 8, 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. 

Only 16 days remain in the legislative session

The 2009 legislative session is winding down as several important issues await final action. With the Legislature’s final adjournment scheduled for June 4, only 16 working days remain for senators to push through their priority legislation.

Time is even shorter for legislation not yet placed on Final Reading, since the Legislature’s rules require that a bill must sit on Final Reading for at least one day before it receives a third and final vote. More than 101 bills are on—or in the process of being sent to—Final Reading.

Click here to view the bill summary.

 

Bills of interest to NHA members advance

The following bills of interest to NHA members advanced recently. Below each bill number and description is the bill's current status.

• LB 27 — Change the Medical Assistance Act and the Autism Treatment Program Act
  Status: Advanced to Select File
   
• LB 37 — Appropriate funds for a new division of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing in Norfolk
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
   
• LB 84 — Eliminate the termination date for the Women's Health Initiative Advisory Council
  Status: Advanced to Select File
   
• LB 112 — Exclude certain health education loan repayments from income taxation
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
   
• LB 152 — Change a provision relating to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
   
• LB 195 — Change provisions relating to barbering, pharmacy, physician assistants, certificates of need, hearing instrument specialists, emergency medical services, and statewide trauma services
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
   
• LB 311 — Provide for deficit appropriations
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
   
• LB 314 — Appropriate funds for capital construction
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
   
• LB 315 — Appropriate funds for state government expenses
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
   
• LB 342 — Provide duties for the Department of Health and Human Services relating to payment for pediatric feeding disorder treatment
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
   
• LB 358 — Change the Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool Act
  Status: Advanced to Select File
   
• LB 394 — Define unprofessional conduct for physicians with regard to anatomic pathology services
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
   
• LB 476 — Adopt the Center for Student Leadership and Extended Learning Act
  Status: Advanced to Final Reading
  
   

NHA holds PDC meeting

The Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) was pleased to have the participation of 15 key hospital leaders who attended the NHA's Policy Development Committee (PDC) meeting on May 6.

David Burd, Vice President, Finance provided an overview on the federal issues, including a summary of the Senate Finance Committee's recently released health care reform policy options, and discussed recent NHA congressional visits.

Bruce Rieker, Vice President, Advocacy, provided the PDC members with an update on state legislative issues and a detailed analysis of the state legislature's 2009-11 biennium budget proposal. Rieker also provided an overview of the NHA Workforce Development Plan.

Mr. John Albin, general counsel for the Department of Labor, provided the committee members with an analysis of the current statewide workforce shortage, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Department of Labor's initiatives to address the workforce crisis.

Cora Micek, Advocacy Coordinator, lead discussion on the NHA interim work plan and reiterated the vast resources available for hospital leaders, who work year round as coordinators, promoters and advocates of legislative health issues.


 

Tax revenue drop raises possibility of special session

LINCOLN— State tax receipts plunged precipitously in April, prompting whispers Thursday about the potential of a special legislative session later this year.

A report released by the Nebraska Department of Revenue showed that net tax receipts for April were 9.8 percent lower than had been forecast mid-month.

Net receipts for the budget year that began July 1, 2008, were 1.3 percent below the level predicted by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board on April 23. The board’s predictions are used in setting the state budget.

"Are you saying we’re going to have to meet in August for a special session?" asked State Senator Health Mello, after looking at the new revenue report. "That’s not good."

Senator Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek, chairman of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, called the drop "alarming." But he held out hope that a special budget-cutting session won't be necessary. He said the situation could look better by the end of June.

The revenue report came out just as lawmakers gave second-round approval to a $6.92 billion, two-year state budget. The budget advanced with only minor amendments and virtually no debate.

— Omaha World-Herald, May 7, 2009

 

Budget package amended, advanced to final reading

LINCOLN— Senators gave second-round approval May 7 to the 2009-11 biennial state budget. The budget proposed by the Appropriations Committee would provide $6.9 billion for state government operation and aid during the two-year period, an average annual spending growth rate of 1 percent.

An amendment to LB 311, offered by chairperson Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek and adopted 34-0, would reduce the general fund deficit appropriation for the current fiscal year by $1.2 million.

The reduction reflects matching federal funds the state will receive under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for adoption assistance and foster care, he said.

— Lincoln Journal Star, May 7, 2009

Legislature considers forcing Medicaid payments to newly licensed counselors

LINCOLN—The Legislature may force the state’s Medicaid division to pay newly licensed mental health counselors and psychologists for counseling Medicaid clients, if the division doesn’t change its payment policy on its own.

Senator Annette Dubas, who raised the issue in debate Thursday, got a promise that senators will meet with Medicaid administrators before the session ends to talk about the problems created by the decision. She also got support from a number of senators for introducing a bill next year that would require Medicaid reimbursement if nothing has changed. Read more.

— Lincoln Journal Star, May 7, 2009

 

Mental care payment policy is questioned

LINCOLN—Nebraska risks driving away much-needed mental health professionals by denying Medicaid payments to some, a state lawmaker charged Thursday.

Under a policy adopted July 1, the state Medicaid program stopped reimbursing psychologists or mental health practitioners who hold provisional licenses, unless they work for a nationally accredited group.

State Senator Annette Dubas said the change exacerbates problems with providing mental health care at a time when Nebraska needs to expand its mental health work force and find ways to better serve troubled youngsters. Read more.

— Omaha World-Herald, May 8, 2009

 

Johanns says he won't seek earmarks

WASHINGTON—Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) will not request earmarks in this year's spending bills. "I simply do not have confidence that the earmarking system is open, transparent and based on merit," Johanns said Thursday.

Johanns is in his first year in the Senate. He said that earmarks need to be put through a public analysis to determine their merit and he doesn't see that happening right now. Read more.

— Omaha World-Herald, May 8, 2009

 

Centrist Democrats stake out ground on health care

WASHINGTON—Centrist Democrats in both houses of Congress sought to make their voices heard on health reform Thursday as the Democratic lawmakers at the heart of the effort move closer to introducing legislation.

In the House, the New Democrat Coalition issued a statement of principles on health reform that emphasizes strengthening the private insurance market for employees of large and small businesses and for individuals.

Likewise, Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), the most conservative Democrat in the upper chamber, gave a speech on the Senate floor laying out his position on the overhaul the U.S. health care system.  Read more.

— The Hill, May 7, 2009

 

Senate GOP plans attack on Obama health care bill

WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans are seeking and getting detailed advice on the best way to attack the Obama administration's health care legislation. The suggestions are contained in a 28-page presentation by Frank Luntz, who has long experience in advising Republicans on tailoring their speeches and phrase-making to achieve maximum political benefit. Read more.

— AP/Yahoo News, May 8, 2009

 

Taxing those with insurance to pay for those without

WASHINGTON—As a way to pay for the plan to expand health coverage to the nearly 50 million people who are now uninsured, the government is considering taxing people who already have the most expensive health benefits, as provided by their employers. By one Congressional estimate, it could yield $100 billion in revenue over five years. And although President Obama criticized the notion last year when Senator John McCain promoted it during their presidential campaigns, the concept now has some support in Obama's administration as part of an overhaul of the health care system. Read more.

— New York Times, May 8, 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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