Senators gave second-round approval April 5 to a bill that would establish a program to offer prenatal services to low-income women regardless of immigration status.<\/p>\n
Under LB599, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, the state Department of Health and Human Services would be required to establish a program under the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) solely for the unborn children of mothers who are ineligible for coverage under Medicaid.<\/p>\n
Eligibility for service would be determined using an income budgetary methodology of no greater than 185 percent of the federal poverty guideline.<\/p>\n
Benefits would include:
\n\u2022 laboratory testing;
\n\u2022 outpatient hospital care;
\n\u2022 pharmaceuticals and prescription vitamins;
\n\u2022 radiology, ultrasound and other necessary imaging;
\n\u2022 services related to conditions that could complicate the pregnancy; and
\n\u2022 professional fees and hospital costs related to labor and delivery.<\/p>\n
The bill would require the department, within 30 days after passage of LB599, to seek federal approval of a state plan amendment or waiver for Nebraska\u2019s program.<\/p>\n
Opponents of the bill offered a series of amendments to LB599 during select file debate.<\/p>\n
An amendment offered by Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz that would have required a pregnant woman to provide an attestation of immigration status prior to obtaining prenatal care under the bill was defeated on a vote of 11-12.<\/p>\n
Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont offered an amendment that contained provisions of LB221, a bill he introduced that would have required screening for controlled substances of certain recipients of public benefits. The amendment was defeated on a 15-13 vote.<\/p>\n
An amendment offered by Omaha Sen. John Nelson that would have striken all references to immigration status in LB599 was defeated 15-14.<\/p>\n
After withdrawal of several additional pending amendments, senators advanced the bill to final reading by a vote of 29-16.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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