Nebraska Legislative Updates

There are several disability-related bills this session.  Below is a summary of a few:

• LB887- Expands Medicaid and allows the state to use Medicaid dollars to purchase coverage through Nebraska's health insurance exchange.
• LB 920- Provides an office for public guardianship.
• LB854- Prohibits the release of a request for proposals for Medicaid managed long-term care before Sept. 1, 2015.
• LB1076- Halts Medicaid reductions to home healthcare providers.
• LB1078- Requires insurance coverage for telehealth services.
• LB375- Provides funding for individuals on the Developmental Disabilities waiting list.
• LB 505- Requires that autism coverage be provided by insurance companies.
• LB556-
• LB901- Provides psychology internships through the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN)
• LR400- Creates an oversight committee to investigate the problems with Access NE- Nebraska's system to apply for Medicaid coverage and economic assistance programs.
• LR20- Continues the Special Investigative Committee for Developmental Disability services.
• LR422- Provides that the Health and Human Services and Banking and Insurance Legislative Committees create policy recommendations to transform Nebraska's health care system.

 Click here to see the full listing of bills and here to view additional news from the Unicameral.

Many states are moving their Medicaid programs to "managed care" as a way to improve quality, and decrease costs. Recently, Kansas made national headlines for becoming the first state to submit an application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to use managed care for individuals with developmental disabilities. Rather than the state providing the direct services and supports, Kansas officials proposed to contract with private health insurance companies. Advocates in Kansas are concerned that general health insurance companies do not have an understanding of the needed non-medical community supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Disability advocates have expressed concern that managed care does not have enough protections in place to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to get access to the services they need. Organizations such as American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the National Council on Disability have expressed concern as well. Nebraska Medicaid currently uses managed care for their behavioral health services and for their Medicaid services. Nebraska had planned to implement managed care for its Medicaid long-term services starting in 2015, but there is currently a bill in the legislature that would block the full implementation until 2017. For more information regarding disability advocates 'concerns regarding managed care, check out the links below.

AAPD letter to CMS

National Council on Disability letter to CMS

• "Spread the Word to End the Word"- On March 5th from 10am-noon in the UNL Student Union, Haley Waggoner and other Nebraska Youth Leadership Council members will host an educational event for individuals to pledge not to use the "R-word" (retarded). For more information, go here.
• Autism Awareness- On the morning of February 25th, local autism organizations will come together to highlight the increased incidence of autism the need for insurance coverage. For more details, click here.
• The Rose Theatre- In March, the Rose Theatre will hold classes for children/youth on the autism spectrum. For more information, check out their brochure. 
• O'Hana Kids Newsletter- Is a statewide resource featuring inclusive activities and events available for children/youth/families across the state.  Check out the link on the right for additional information.