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NHA state legislative update
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:
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LB 733 (Support) - Provide a sales tax exemption for local public health
departments and provide for applicability of the Political Subdivisions Tort
Claims Act to such departments.
-
LB 921 (Support) - Provide time limits for payment of claims under the
medical assistance program.
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LB 938 (Support) - Provide for an amendment to the Medicaid state plan
relating to reimbursement of federally qualified health centers.
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LB 1106 (Support) - Provide for school-based health centers under the
Medical Assistance Act.
-
LR289CA (Oppose) - Constitutional amendment to prohibit laws that
restrict or interfere with choice of health care plans or direct payment for
medical services.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, February 5, 2010
Hearings scheduled for February 8-11
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.
Monday, February 8
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LB 780 - Sponsored by Senator Lathrop, this bill would change Nebraska
Workers' Compensation Act provisions relating to personal injuries.
-
LB 833 - Sponsored by Senator Fulton, this bill would provide for
confidentiality of Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court records.
-
LB 846 - Sponsored by Senator Schilz, this bill would change interest
rate provisions for certain Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court awards.
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LB 872 - Sponsored by Senator Lathrop, this bill would Change
applicability of a medical fee schedule relating to workers' compensation.
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LB 908 - Sponsored by Senator Conrad, this bill would change workers'
compensation provisions relating to claims for legal services or
disbursements.
-
LB 961 - Sponsored by Senator Council, this bill would provide for
economic development job training grants.
-
LB 963 - Sponsored by Senator Carlson, this bill would change Nebraska
Workers' Compensation Act provisions governing disability compensation after
retirement.
-
LB 1044 - Sponsored by Senator Lautenbaugh, this bill would change
employer liability provisions under the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act.
Tuesday, February 9
-
LB 945 - Sponsored by Senator Harms, this bill would prohibit use of
handheld wireless communication devices while driving.
-
LB 959 - Sponsored by Senator Lathrop, this bill would prohibit certain
discriminatory acts or practices related to the business of insurance.
Wednesday, February 10
-
LB 1067 - Sponsored by Senator Rogert, this bill would require pulse oximetry screening for newborns.
Thursday, February 11
-
LB
835 - Sponsored by Senator Howard, this bill would change reporting
provisions of the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act.
-
LB 876 - Sponsored by Senator Howard, this bill would change recovery
amounts under the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act.
-
LB 940 - Sponsored by Senator Janssen, this bill would amend the Welfare
Reform Act to require drug screening for cash assistance benefits.
-
LB 992 - Sponsored by Senator McGill, this bill would provide for
treatment relating to sexually transmitted diseases as prescribed.
-
LB 1094 - Sponsored by Senator Lathrop, this bill would adopt the
Nonrecourse Civil Litigation Act.
Click here to view the NHA 2010 Bills of Interest Summary. For additional
legislative updates, visit www.nhanet.org.
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.
— Nebraska Hospital Association, February 5, 2010
Register today for March 9 Advocacy Day
The Nebraska Hospital Association's annual Advocacy Day event
is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9, 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
- Kerry Winterer, CEO, Nebraska Department of Health and
Human Services
- Dan Griess, CEO, Box Butte General Hospital, Alliance /
NHA Chairman
- Glenn Fosdick, President & CEO, The Nebraska Medical
Center, Omaha / NHA PAC Steering Committee Chair
- Paul Muraca, AHA Regional Executive
- Laura Redoutey, NHA President
- Bruce Rieker, NHA Vice President, Advocacy
- Kelley Porter, NHA Director of Communications
Registration is $40 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.
Bill would require prompt payment of Medicaid claims
LINCOLN—Prompt payment of some Medicaid claims would be
required under a bill heard February 3 by the Health and Human Services
Committee.
LB 921, sponsored by Lincoln Senator Kathy Campbell, would require the state
Department of Health and Human Services to pay, deny or settle clean claims for
Medicaid payment within 45 days of receipt. The bill defines a clean claim as
one submitted by a provider on a claim form with all required fields completed
with information to adjudicate the claim in accordance with any published
requirements of the department.
Read more. —
Unicameral Update, February 4, 2010
LINCOLN—Senator Tim Gay of Papillion announced he will not run
for a second four-year term. Gay, chairman of the Health and Human Services
Committee, said his decision is based on meeting the needs of his family, taking
advantage of business opportunities and accomplishing other long-term goals.
Gay, who has three children in school, said that by the time he gets home from a
day in Lincoln and attends the events of his children, it is 10 p.m. He was a
Sarpy County Commissioner for 12 years before being elected to the Legislature.
—
Lincoln Journal Star, January 27, 2010
LINCOLN—The state's largest union will not accept a wage
freeze sought by Governor Dave Heineman as one way to help balance the budget. More
than 95 percent of the employees who responded to the union on the wage freeze
question rejected the idea. They felt the governor's proposal was identical to
the governor's position during negotiations in 2008, said Julie Dake Abel,
executive director of NAPE/AFSCME.
Read more.
—
Lincoln Journal Star, February 5, 2010
WASHINGTON—The change in the Senate’s composition has DC in
what clinicians would call a “watchful waiting” mode concerning reform –
everyone is poised to respond once the congressional leadership and the
president decide the path they will pursue. The AHA continues to support
responsible reform guided by the elements of the
Health for
Life framework.
At the same time, several key issues must be addressed now: the moratorium on
reductions in Medicare physician payment must be dealt with by its expiration on
February 28; before the March 15 comment period closes, we need to respond to
the very problematic proposed “meaningful use” regulations so that hospitals can
access the IT funding that was contained in the economic stimulus package; and,
we need to extend Medicaid relief to the states, possibly via a jobs bill now
under development.
Moreover, we expect that when the proposed Medicare inpatient rule comes out
this spring—which sets rates for next year (starting October 1, 2010)—CMS will
propose a behavioral offset that will take billions out of an already
underfunded government program. So while the reform bills have slowed down,
these are just a few of the many issues of great importance that are on our
short-term “to do” list.
— AHA News Now, February 6, 2010
States restart health care push
WASHINGTON—With the fate of a national health care
overhaul unclear, state legislators are pushing their own bills aimed at
expanding coverage, the
Wall Street Journal reports. Lawmakers in at least two states, California
and Missouri, have introduced legislation for the current session to create
government-backed coverage for state residents. In others, including Virginia
and New Jersey, legislators are hoping to expand existing state programs to
include more people. In 11 states, lawmakers have proposed bills for this year
aimed at improving access to health care, the Journal reports.
Read more.
— Wall Street Journal, February 2, 2010
President Obama maps a way forward for a health overhaul
WASHINGTON—Speaking to supporters at a fundraiser,
President Obama presented a plan to move forward with comprehensive health care
legislation, the
New York Times reports. President Obama said that he wanted to meet with
Democrats, Republicans and independent experts, lay out the facts for the
American people and then, he said, "I think that we have got to move forward on
a vote." He also said that he would take the time to refute false statements and
misunderstandings about the health care legislation and to hear alternate ideas
from Republicans, the
Times reports.
Read more.
— New York Times, February 5, 2010
For more information about health-related
legislative bills or resolutions, contact: Bruce Rieker, Vice President,
Advocacy, at (402) 742-8146 or
brieker@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
www.nhanet.org. Kelley Porter, editor, at (402) 742-8151, or email,
kporter@nhanet.org.
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