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NHA mid-session legislative report
LINCOLN—The legislature is now entering its second half of the
60-day session. Last week was the last full week of committee hearings and
all-day floor debate begins
today. NHA members are encouraged to contact senators on priority issues and
legislation of interest.
Last week, the NHA and member hospitals testified or submitted a letter of
support, opposition or neutral for the following bills of interest:
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LB 953 - (Neutral) Sponsored by Senator Coash, this bill would provide a
rate of payment for certain medical services in emergency protective custody
situations.
View.
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LB 999 - (Support) Sponsored by Senator Campbell, this bill would provide a
two-year moratorium on new hospital licenses.
View.
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LB
1043 - (Support) Sponsored by Senator Lautenbaugh, this bill would change medical lien provisions and provide for discovery of medical treatment value and payment rights.
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LB 1110 - (Support) Sponsored by Senator Campbell, this bill would
change provisions relating to coverage for certain children under the
Medical Assistance Program as prescribed.
The following "bills of interest" to NHA members are currently
in committee or have advanced. The NHA's position is listed behind each bill number,
as well as the bill description and current status.
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LB 107 - (Oppose) Require an employer to provide an employee a reason for termination. Placed on General File on 3/12/09.
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LB 112 - (Support) Exclude certain health education loan repayments from income taxation. Placed on Final Reading on 5/6/09
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LB 159 - (Support) Provide an income tax credit for long-term care
insurance policy premiums. Status: Placed on Final Reading on 4/28/09.
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LB 200 - (Oppose) Change motorcycle and moped helmet requirements.
Status: Placed on General File on 1/27/10; motion to cease debate failed on
2/11/10.
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LB 304 - (Oppose) Change limitation of action provisions under the
Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act. Placed on General File on 4/3/09.
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LB 420 - (Support) Change a sales tax exemption relating to nonprofit
organizations. Placed on Final Reading on 5/27/09.
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LB 489 - (Support) Adopt the Area Health Education Centers Act. Placed
on Final Reading on 4/23/09.
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LB 702 - (Support) Change provisions relating to a patient's access to
medical records. Status: Placed on General File on 2/16/10.
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LB 710 - (Oppose) Prohibit performance of chiropractic adjustments as
prescribed. Awaiting committee action.
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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. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 742 - (Oppose) Provide requirements for settlement agreements
involving public entities and provide that such agreements are public
records. Status: Placed on General File 2/23/10.
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LB 766 - (Support) Repeal the termination date for the Nebraska Center
for Nursing Act. Status: Placed on General File on 2/10/10.
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LB 780 - (Support) Change Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act provisions
relating to personal injuries. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 803 - (Support) Exclude licensed physical therapists from the
Chiropractic Practice Act. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 815 - (Support) Change requirements for political subdivision budget
statements and financial information on the state Web site. Awaiting
committee action.
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LB 828 - (Support) Change requirements for medical radiographers and
limited radiographers. Status: Placed on General File on 2/10/10.
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LB 835 - (Oppose) Change reporting provisions of the Nebraska
Hospital-Medical Liability Act. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 855 - (Support) Adopt the Remote Pharmacy Act. Awaiting committee
action.
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LB 866 - (Support) Provide for a dispensing practitioner permit and
change other provisions relating to pharmacy. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 872 - (Support) Change applicability of a medical fee schedule
relating to workers' compensation. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 876 - (Oppose) Change recovery amounts under the Nebraska
Hospital-Medical Liability Act. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 884 - (Support) Require employers to provide employees with wage and
deduction information as prescribed. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 903 - (Oppose) Require the Department of Health and Human Services to
establish criteria to evaluate the adequacy of Alzheimer's special care
units. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 904 - (Oppose) Provide for enhanced assisted-living certificates for
certain assisted-living facilities. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 906 - (Oppose) Eliminate restrictions on sales of alcohol near
certain places. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 921 - (Support) Provide time limits for payment of claims under the
medical assistance program. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 930 - (Support) Change provisions relating to distribution of certain
devices under the Pharmacy Practice Act. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 938 - (Support) Provide for an amendment to the Medicaid state plan
relating to reimbursement of federally qualified health centers. Awaiting
committee action.
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LB 945 - (Support) Prohibit use of handheld wireless communication
devices while driving. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 953 - (Neutral) Provide a rate of payment for certain medical
services in emergency protective custody situations. Awaiting committee
action.
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LB 959 - (Support) Prohibit certain discriminatory acts or practices
related to the business of insurance.
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LB 961 - (Support) Provide for economic development job training grants.
Awaiting committee action.
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LB 992 - (Oppose) Provide for treatment relating to sexually transmitted
diseases as prescribed. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 999 - (Support) Provide a two-year moratorium on new hospital
licenses. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 1017 - (Oppose) Provide requirements for insurers for prescription
drug coverage. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 1038 - (Oppose) Change provisions relating to informed consent for
genetic testing. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 1043 - (Support) Change medical lien provisions and provide for
discovery of medical treatment value and payment rights. Awaiting committee
action.
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LB 1088 - (Support) Adopt the Physician and Patient Prescription
Protection Act. Awaiting committee action.
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LB 1093 - (Support) Change Medicaid Prescription Drug Act provisions.
Awaiting committee action.
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LB 1106 - (Support) Provide for school-based health centers under the
Medical Assistance Act. Status: Placed on General File on 2/24/10.
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LB 1110 - (Support) Change provisions relating to coverage for certain
children under the Medical Assistance Program as prescribed. Awaiting
committee action.
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LR 289CA - (Oppose) Constitutional amendment to prohibit laws that
restrict or interfere with choice of health care plans or direct payment for
medical services. Awaiting committee action.
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, March 1, 2010
Register now 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. Following the morning's educational
programming, you will have an opportunity to visit with your senator about how
legislation will affect health care in your community at a Legislative Luncheon.
Event registration is $40 per person. To register online for Advocacy Day,
click here.
Nebraska lawmakers may have to find $30 million
LINCOLN—Financial forecasters for the state saw their shadows Friday and predicted more of an economic financial winter for Nebraska that will last through the next 18 months.
"This forecast indicates that the state has more challenging times ahead," said Governor Dave Heineman. "It is clear that the Legislature needs to enact additional spending reductions to get the budget back in balance."
The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board dropped its forecast by $31.7 million for the next two years.
State revenue is forecast at $3.28 billion this fiscal year. Next year, it will improve to $3.405 billion.
Read more.
—
Lincoln Journal Star, February 26, 2010
LINCOLN—The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony February 25 on a bill that would establish a program to offer prenatal services to low-income women regardless of immigration status.
Lincoln Senator Kathy Campbell, sponsor of
LB 1110, said the bill is intended to allow Nebraska to continue a 20-year practice of covering the cost of prenatal and pregnancy-related services connected to the health of an unborn child.
Read more.
—
Unicameral Update, February 26, 2010
LINCOLN—The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony
February 24 on a bill that would provide for a two-year moratorium on the issuance of new hospital licenses in Nebraska.
LB 999, sponsored by Lincoln Senator Kathy Campbell, would direct the state Department of Health and Human Services not to accept applications from or issue licenses to new hospitals from September 1, 2010 through
August 31, 2012. The bill makes an exception for critical access hospitals.
Read more.
— Unicameral Update, February 25, 2010
WASHINGTON—Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson says he's open to using special budget rules known as reconciliation to pass a health care package.
Speaking to Lincoln's KLIN radio Friday, the Democrat said it's the least
preferable method of passing legislation but sometimes it's necessary. Nelson
stressed that he won't decide whether to support an overhaul package until he
sees the final details, including a cost estimate.
Read more.
— Lincoln Journal Star, February 26, 2010
WASHINGTON—Senator Mike Johanns said Thursday the best conclusion to President Barack Obama's health care reform summit would have been a pledge not to seek Senate approval using the so-called reconciliation process.
That procedure would allow enactment by a Senate majority of 51 votes, bypassing the need to acquire 60 votes to break a Republican filibuster.
Read more.
— Lincoln Journal Star, February 25, 2010
Pelosi says she will get votes needed for health bill
WASHINGTON—Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she is confident she will be able to get the votes needed to pass sweeping health care legislation in the House, the
New York Times reports. The House passed a bill to remake the health care system in early November, but Pelosi said she would have another version, incorporating compromises between the House and the Senate, "in a matter of days." When the new package is ready, she will sell it to the public, Pelosi told the
Times.
Read more.
— New York Times, March 1, 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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