Medicaid prenatal program approved

Lawmakers passed a bill March 28 to support low-income Nebraska mothers who are at risk for adverse birth outcomes.

LB857, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, creates the Nebraska Prenatal Plus Program to cover the cost of prenatal services for at-risk mothers — defined as pregnant women eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program who a health care provider determines are at risk for a negative maternal or infant health outcome.

Prenatal services under the program include nutritional counseling, psychosocial counseling and support, general client education and health promotion, breastfeeding support and targeted case management. The program will sunset June 30, 2028.

The bill also includes provisions of Lincoln Sen. Carolyn Bosn’s LB933 that expand Nebraska Medicaid coverage for continuous glucose monitors to include individuals with gestational diabetes and those receiving any type of insulin therapy.

Funding for continuous glucose monitor coverage is capped at $600,000 annually from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund.

Senators passed LB857 on a 45-0 vote.