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NHA provides special session update
LINCOLN—The Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) recently
provided a webinar to member hospitals, updating participants on the status of
Nebraska’s special session and where the cuts for health care may occur.
Nebraska lawmakers have begun their special session to deal with a projected
$334 million shortfall in the state’s current two-year budget that began July 1,
2009. Although 16 bills were introduced during the opening days of the session,
it appears that Nebraska’s Unicameral will use Governor Dave Heineman’s spending
reduction plan as the main framework for debate rather than drafting its own
proposal.
During these tough economic times when Nebraskans are losing jobs and the number
of people eligible for Medicaid and other assistance programs is growing, the
consequences of cutting state expenditures in programs that are eligible for
federal matching funds will have a sizeable impact on patients, providers and
Nebraska’s economy.
Presenter Bruce Rieker, NHA Vice President of Advocacy, reviewed Governor
Heineman’s budget reduction proposal and other legislation introduced that aims
to balance Nebraska’s budget. Member hospitals may
click here view the entire webinar presentation. Contact
Kelley Porter, NHA Director of
Communications, for login information.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, November 13, 2009
Legislative hearing November 17
LINCOLN—One special session hearing will be held on Tuesday,
November 17, 2009. The hearing will entail a presentation of annual
actuarial reports to the Retirement Committee on the defined benefit plans.
Click here
to view the week's calendar.
— NebraskaLegislature.gov, November 13, 2009
NHA encourages proactive advocacy efforts for upcoming session
As the upcoming Nebraska legislative session approaches, the Nebraska Hospital Association
(NHA) encourages members to plan their advocacy efforts.
Advocacy teams, comprised of hospital leaders, are pivotal to develop and implement strategies to influence
policymakers. The team gathers and delivers political and community, and coordinates grassroots political action, such as letter writing, meetings with legislators and hosting policymakers that visit the hospital.
Members may contact the NHA for
assistance in building an advocacy team.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, November 16, 2009
Committee reduces rate increases promised to health care providers
LINCOLN—They said decisions about budget cuts would be
hard. The difficult discussions began in earnest Thursday morning in the
Legislature's Appropriations Committee, starting with a decision to reduce
increases private providers of health care services for the state would get next
year.
The committee will recommend those increases be reduced to 0.5 percent for
behavioral health, public assistance and Medicaid providers. For providers of
services for developmentally disabled and aging clients, the increase would be 1
percent. The smaller increases discussed a week into a special budget-cutting
session would save $7 million in an effort to meet the $334 million deficit.
Read more.
— Lincoln Journal Star, November 12, 2009
Johanns expresses concerns on health care reform plan
LINCOLN—U.S. Senator Mike Johanns held meetings this week in Grand Island,
Lexington and Kearney to address health care reform. During the meetings,
Senator Johanns relayed his opposition to the health care reform plan. He
doesn't think this bill will go far in the Senate and lists problems, including
cuts to Medicare spending and higher taxes and premiums. He wants to see small hospital protected and an end to frivolous lawsuits that increase insurance costs and the practice of defensive medicine. Earlier in the week, Johanns
also sent a
letter to Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid requesting an analysis of the
long-term financial impact of the Senate health bill.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, November 13, 2009
Senators advance changes to state aid to schools formula
LINCOLN—Senators
advanced a bill November 13 that would make adjustments to the state aid to
schools formula in order to hold expenditures flat over the next two years. York
Senator Greg Adams, chairperson of the Education Committee, estimated the
proposed adjustments would result in a savings of $31.5 million.
Read more.
— Unicameral Update, November 13, 2009
LINCOLN—About two dozen people rallied outside Senator Ben
Nelson's Lincoln office on Thursday to urge him to support an overhaul of the
nation's health care system. Nelson said earlier this week that he would oppose
a bill that includes an option for a government-run health plan and that
provides federal dollars for abortions.
Read more.
— Omaha World-Herald, November 12, 2009
WASHINGTON—Health legislation moving through Congress would
force drug makers to disclose how much they spend on continuing medical
education classes for doctors has sparked some resistance from the industry, the
Wall Street Journal reports. Defenders of industry funding say the money
helps pay for high-quality classes that keep doctors up to date on the latest
treatments. They say the classes are developed independent of industry
influence.
The health care overhaul bill that passed the full House mandates disclosure of
drug and medical-device industry payments to both doctors and third parties,
including medical-education companies. Senate versions of the bill don't require
the disclosure of third-party payments.
Read more.
— Wall Street Journal, November 13, 2009
WASHINGTON—The health bills passed through Senate committees
would extend insurance to fewer people than the final bill passed through the
House last week, and Senate leaders have been refining their bill to increase
that number. Hospitals and insurance companies warn that if the final Senate
bill doesn't cover more people than its earlier drafts, insurance prices will
increase and industry pledges to cut costs could fall apart, the
Wall Street Journal reports.
Read more.
— Wall Street Journal, November 13, 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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