Health reporting bill narrowed, advanced
A bill that would make a number of changes to reports that the state Department of Health and Human Services is required to provide to lawmakers was narrowed and advanced from general file May 13.
LB376, as introduced by the Health and Human Services Committee, would update or eliminate certain reporting requirements, programs and services. Among others, the bill would eliminate several reports related to Medicaid, youth rehabilitation and treatment centers, behavioral health services, newborn hearing tests, work and education programs, handgun purchase disqualifications, prenatal care and child welfare expenditures.
Gering Sen. Brian Hardin, committee chairperson, said the bill seeks to eliminate reports that are outdated and duplicative due to federal mandates or internal department regulations. Doing so would allow DHHS to focus instead on helping people, he said.
The bill previously was discussed on general file in March before being passed over to allow time for supporters to find a compromise with senators who objected to the scope of the proposal.
Sen. John Arch of La Vista offered an amendment during debate May 13, adopted 39-0, to replace the bill with a modified proposal. The amendment would focus solely on updating or eliminating certain reporting requirements but would make no changes to any programs or services offered through DHHS.
Arch said the department provides the Legislature with over 100 reports each year, many of which have become obsolete.
“The purpose of this bill is not to withhold information the Legislature wants and needs,” he said. “[But] there is more substantive and timely information now available on the department’s website and many of the reports required by the Legislature are no longer relevant.”
Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad supported the amendment, saying it is good policy to frequently evaluate reporting requirements to determine if they have become antiquated and unnecessary.
“This is a healthy exercise in making government work in a more efficient manner,” she said.
After adopting a committee amendment that would repeal a section of state law relating to the reimbursement of office space in the Stone Office Building at the Norfolk Regional Center, lawmakers advanced LB376 to select file on a 35-0 vote.
