Postpartum home visitation program expanded, advanced to final round

A proposal intended to connect postpartum mothers and infants enrolled in Medicaid with in-home support services was expanded and advanced from select file March 11.

LB22, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, would implement targeted case management for evidence-based nurse home visiting services for postpartum mothers and infants younger than 6 months old who are enrolled in Medicaid, starting Oct. 1, 2025.

The program would be paid for through the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund. Dungan offered an amendment on select file, adopted 44-0, to clarify that use of state general funds to carry out the bill’s provisions would be prohibited.

Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould also offered an amendment to add provisions of her LB104. The amendment would define evidence-based home visiting programs and establish reporting requirements for the state Department of Health and Human Services.

Under the amendment, adopted 38-0, funding for home visitation services would be limited to evidence-based programs that have received national certification and have clear guidelines and comprehensive standards to ensure high-quality service delivery.

The amendment also would require the department to submit three annual reports, beginning Feb. 15, 2026, on the use of home visitation services in the state.

Raybould said the provisions would ensure that Nebraka is in compliance with federal funding requirements for home visitation services and that those programs follow specified guidelines.

“[The amendment] ensures that state funds utilized for this programming are exclusively used for programs with clear successes for families,” she said.

Dungan supported the amendment, saying it would narrow the scope of what would be considered a qualified at-home nurse visitation service.

Following adoption of the Raybould amendment, senators advanced LB22 to final reading by voice vote.