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NHA legislative update
LINCOLN—The following "bills of interest" to NHA members 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
579 -
(Monitor) Adopt the Professional Employer Organization Registration Act.
Signed into law on 3/17/10.
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LB 701 - (Monitor) Change distribution of ICF/MR Reimbursement Protection Fund.
Placed on Select File on 3/16/10.
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LB 742 - (Monitor) Provide requirements for settled claims and settlement agreements involving public entities and provide that such claims and agreements are public records.
Advanced to Select File on 3/15/10.Advanced to enrollment and review for engrossment on 3/17/10.
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LB 800 - (Neutral) Provide methods of early intervention for children at risk.
Placed on Select File on 3/18/10.
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LB 800A - (Neutral) Appropriate funds to aid in carrying out the provisions of LB 800. Placed on General File on 3/16/10. Advanced to
enrollment and review initial on 3/17/10.
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LB 849 - (Monitor) Change provisions relating to the health and human services.
Placed on Select File on 3/18/10.
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LB 935 - (Monitor) Provide for deficit appropriations and change certain appropriations. Placed on Select File 3/17/10. Advanced to
enrollment and review for engrossment on 3/18/10.
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LB 945 - (Support) Prohibit use of handheld wireless communication devices while driving.
Placed on Select File on 3/18/10.
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LB 961 - (Support) Provide for economic development job training grants. Advanced to Enrollment and Review Initial
on 3/18/10.
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LB 999 - (Support) Provide a two-year moratorium on new hospital licenses. Placed on General File on 3/16/10.
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LB 1094A - (Monitor) Appropriate funds to aid in carrying out the provisions of LB 1094. Placed on General file on 3/16/10.
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LB 1106
- (Support) Provide for school-based health centers under the Medical Assistance Act. Advanced to
enrollment and review for engrossment on 3/18/10.
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LB 1106A - (Support) Appropriate funds to aid in carrying out the provisions of LB 1106. Advanced to enrollment and review for
engrossment on 3/18/10.
Bills of interest the NHA members that have been indefinitely
postponed include:
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LB 702 - (Support) Change provisions relating to a patient's access to medical records. Provisions of this bill were amended into LB 849 (see above).
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LB 1110 - (Support) Change provisions relating to coverage for certain children under the Medical Assistance Program as prescribed.
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, please contact Bruce Rieker, Vice
President, Advocacy, at (402) 742-8146 or
brieker@nhanet.org.
—
Nebraska Hospital Association, March 19, 2010
CMS issues notice on physician
supervision requirements
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent a notice
on Monday to congressional health staff. CMS has announced that they will not enforce the "direct supervision" requirements for outpatient therapeutic services provided in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) during the remainder of 2010. CMS will revisit the issue during the 2011 rulemaking process.
The Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) is pleased with CMS' notice and will continue to advocate against the physician supervision requirements moving forward for all Nebraska hospitals. CMS' announcement demonstrates that our efforts do make a difference!
The NHA thanks our members that have weighed in on this issue and appreciates the support that we have received from our
congressional delegation.
CMS Notice: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will instruct all of its Medicare contractors not to evaluate or enforce the supervision requirements for therapeutic services provided to outpatients in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for the duration of calendar year (CY) 2010. The final 2010 hospital outpatient prospective payment system rule had specified that a “direct supervision” standard is required for therapeutic services furnished in hospital outpatient departments. CMS believed this requirement to be a clarification of longstanding policy, but the rule has generated concern among some rural providers who had previously interpreted the CMS policy to require only “general supervision” and who believe that it may be difficult to meet this requirement.
CMS plans to revisit the issue of supervision for therapeutic services provided to hospital outpatients in CAHs through the annual rulemaking cycle for CY 2011. CMS continues to expect CAHs to fulfill all other Medicare program requirements when providing services to Medicare beneficiaries and when billing Medicare for those services. While CMS is instructing contractors not to enforce the supervision requirements in CAHs for CY 2010, we continue to emphasize quality and safety for services provided to all patients in CAHs.
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Nebraska Hospital Association, March 16, 2010
World-Herald editorial: Hospital discussion is needed
LINCOLN—The Nebraska Legislature will soon consider a proposal to impose a temporary moratorium on building new hospitals in Nebraska. Such a pause would provide time to study the effects of doctor-owned hospitals in the state.
The proposal stems from the controversy in Kearney, where a group of physicians is trying to break away from Good Samaritan Hospital and start their own hospital.
Read more.
—
Omaha World-Herald, March 21, 2010
New prenatal care program bracketed
LINCOLN—Senators gave unanimous consent March 17 to bracket 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 was 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.
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Unicameral Update, March 17, 2010
Texting while driving ban advances
LINCOLN—A bill advanced from general file March 16 would make texting while driving illegal.
LB 945, introduced by Scottsbluff Senator John Harms, would prohibit drivers from using handheld wireless communication devices to read, type or send written communications while operating a motor vehicle in motion.
Read more.
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Unicameral Update, March 16, 2010
AHA statement on House passage of health reform bill
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday voted to pass Congress' landmark health care reform package. The House first voted 219-212 to pass the Senate-passed reform bill, the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590). It then voted 220-211 to approve the
Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872), a package of changes to H.R. 3590. Together, the bills would extend health coverage to 32 million people, 95
percent of legal residents and 92 percent of all U.S. residents. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the legislation will cost $940 billion over 10 years. The Senate is expected to vote on H.R. 4872 later this week.
"For years, America's hospitals have worked hard to make coverage for all a reality. Today, a historic and long overdue step was taken toward achieving that worthy goal," said
American Hospital Association (AHA) President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock last night in a statement. The reform package "will chart a new and better course for our nation's health and health care. We applaud this landmark effort and look forward to continuing to work with the Administration, Congress and all stakeholders to further improve our health care system for the patients and communities we serve." To view a copy of the statement,
click here.
—
American Hospital Association, March 22, 2010
WASHINGTON—House Democrats scored a historic victory in the
century-long battle to reform the nation's health-care system late Sunday night,
winning final approval of legislation that expands coverage to 32 million people
and attempts to contain spiraling costs.
The House voted 219 to 212 to approve the measure, with every Republican voting
no. The measure now awaits President Obama's signature.
Read more.
—
Washington Post, March 22, 2010
WASHINGTON—After more than a year battling Democratic health overhaul proposals, insurers face changes that will reshape their market. But with health reform legislation and the expected package of changes, insurers stand to get more than 20 million new customers. Meanwhile, the legislation will give hospitals more patients whose insurance will pay the bills. But officials at public and urban hospitals also worry that the law calls for cutting millions in federal aid dollars, the
Wall Street Journal reports.
Read more.
— Wall Street Journal, March 22, 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
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kporter@nhanet.org.
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