Children’s health and treatment bill approved

Senators gave final approval April 5 to a bill that creates the Children’s Health and Treatment Act.

LB1063, introduced by Omaha Sen. Tanya Cook, requires that the guidelines and criteria used by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to determine medical necessity for Medicaid services be published on the department’s website and those of managed care contractors and the state Department of Administrative Services.

The bill also requires 60 days’ prior notice to providers of changes to treatment guidelines and quarterly DHHS reports on authorization and denial rates for behavioral health services for children under age 19.

The bill passed on a 44-0 vote.