The Appropriations Committee heard testimony Feb. 8 on a bill that would provide funds for health centers to expand their capacity.<\/p>\n
Under LB923, introduced by Gering Sen. John Stinner, the state\u2019s seven federally qualified health centers would receive a total of $5 million in additional general fund appropriations in fiscal year 2016-17.<\/p>\n
The bill would divide $1.4 million equally among the centers, with $200,000 provided to each. An additional $1.2 million would be distributed proportionally to the centers based on the total number of patients served in the previous year. Finally, $2.4 million would be distributed proportionally based upon the number of uninsured patients served by each center in the previous year.<\/p>\n
Stinner noted that the state\u2019s current budget outlook will require difficult funding choices, but said federally qualified health centers are an important investment in Nebraska. The centers cannot turn patients away, he said, and failing to provide adequate funding to them will cost the state in other ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow more than ever\u2014with our uninsured numbers skyrocketing\u2014we must help support them to serve this vital role,\u201d he said, adding that the seven health care centers saved the state\u2019s health care system more than $87 million last year.<\/p>\n
Andrea Skolkin, testifying on behalf of the Health Center Association of Nebraska, supported the bill. <\/p>\n
\u201cNebraska\u2019s federally qualified health centers provide comprehensive, community-based, culturally appropriate primary and preventative care,\u201d Skolkin said, adding that over half of the centers\u2019 patients are uninsured. The centers, which are located across the state, keep low-income and uninsured patients from visiting emergency rooms, she said.<\/p>\n
Jeff Tracy of Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska, also testified in favor of the bill. One of the most pressing needs of patients seen by the panhandle provider is oral health care, he said, yet the current wait for a nonemergency dental appointment is nearly three months.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccess to high-quality, affordable health care plays a critical role in ensuring that Nebraskans are successful,\u201d Tracy said. \u201cThe difficulty in not expanding those services\u2014or funding this bill\u2014is that you leave a lot of individuals unserved, who end up costing the state a lot more money.\u201d<\/p>\n
No one testified in opposition to LB923 and the committee took no immediate action on it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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