Omnibus health services bill clears final round

Lawmakers passed a measure April 10 that makes a number of changes to health service provision in Nebraska.

LB867, introduced by the Health and Human Services Committee, updates administration of several state Department of Health and Human Services’ programs. Among other provisions, the measure:
• clarifies eligibility for the Bridge to Independence Program;
• excludes expenses needed to earn income when determining financial need for assistance and removes a requirement that payment be made by state warrant under the Aged, Blind or Disabled program;
• clarifies that criminal background check and fingerprinting requirements under the Uniform Credentialing Act apply to all license applications, not just initial applicants;
• removes a requirement for the Title IV-D Customer Service Unit to generate new hires equal to at least 0.25% of the local labor force;
• prohibits transfer penalties for individuals who establish or fund an individual account in a pooled special needs trust in compliance with federal law; and
• eliminates references that allow the healthy spouse of an institutionalized Medicaid applicant to formally designate certain assets and income for their own use.

The bill includes provisions of seven other measures considered by the committee this session, including Lincoln Sen. Beau Ballard’s LB603. Those provisions remove a requirement for care management clients to pay a fee for service and allow DHHS to reimburse Area Agencies on Aging for any costs not paid by clients.

LB733, sponsored by Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, renames the Division of Developmental Disabilities to the Division of Disability and Aging.

The amended provisions of LB845, introduced by the committee, combine the Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia Advisory Council with the Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care Advisory Committee on Aging to create a new 14-member Aging, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Advisory Council.

The measure also creates the Aging, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Advisory Council Fund to accept authorized federal funds, grants or gifts.

The provisions of LB959, introduced by Riepe, require DHHS to create a youth afterschool eligibility letter for individuals age 16 and 17 who are seeking employment in school-age or temporary nonresidential child care programs.

Gering Sen. Brian Hardin’s LB1143 requires DHHS to submit an application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, no later than Dec. 31, to establish a Money Follows the Person Program to assist qualifying individuals in transitioning from an institutional setting to a community setting while continuing to receive long-term care.

The measure also prohibits the average weighted Medicaid nursing facility daily rate from falling below the average weighted daily rate as of Jan. 1, 2026, unless directed by the Legislature or during a state of emergency proclaimed by the governor.

The provisions of LB1144, also sponsored by Hardin, expand the definition of a Medicaid health plan to establish application, submission and denial proceedings and to include service benefit plans, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and any party responsible for claims payment for a health care item or service.

A third measure introduced by Hardin, LB1217, allows any Nebraska accredited or approved public, private, denominational or parochial school to maintain FDA-approved epinephrine on campus to provide first aid to students who experience an allergic reaction.

LB867 passed on a vote of 49-0 and takes effect immediately.