LB 1091 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Provide requirements for the Department of Health and Human Services for long-term care clients with special needs under the medical assistance program

LB 1091 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to provide long-term care services (like skilled nursing, nursing facility, and assisted living care) for Medicaid recipients with complex medical needs through fee-for-service Medicaid or other non-risk-based systems - instead of the state's Medicaid managed care program. It directly affects Medicaid recipients with intensive care needs and their healthcare providers, ensuring these services continue outside managed care enrollment. The bill mandates that providers serving these clients cannot be forced to join managed care organizations, while preserving care continuity and preventing increased state costs. Key provisions include defining "special needs" clients and requiring the department to update contracts and rules within six months of the law's effective date.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Legislature Passage
Apr 2026
Legislature Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed Apr 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Final Reading · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Nebraska's Medicaid law to explicitly exclude long-term care clients with special needs from managed care enrollment. It mandates that these individuals continue receiving services through a fee-for-service system rather than risk-based managed care organizations, ensuring their complex needs are met without financial risk to providers.
Scope change
The bill narrows the scope of Medicaid managed care by creating a specific exemption for clients with complex medical or nursing needs who require intensive care levels exceeding standard nursing facility services.
ELIGIBILITY

Added a specific exemption for 'long-term care clients with special needs,' defined as Medicaid recipients with complex or intensive medical/nursing needs that exceed standard levels.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the delivery model requirement to mandate that services for the exempted group be administered via fee-for-service or non-risk-based systems, prohibiting enrollment in managed care organizations.

Added a requirement for the department to amend managed care contracts within six months to implement these new exclusions and processes.

TECHNICAL

Removed a legislative finding stating that special needs individuals require delivery models that do not replicate utilization management approaches used in capitated programs.

Floor votes · Legislature Mar 25, 2026

How they voted

460
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 49
Mar 25, 2026
N Nonpartisan49
46 Yea 3
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Apr 17, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on April 14, 2026
executive
Apr 10, 2026
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
Apr 10, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading 49-0-0
legislature
Mar 25, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Health and Human Services AM2381 adopted
legislature
Mar 5, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File with AM2381
legislature
Jan 20, 2026
Committee
Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
legislature
Jan 15, 2026
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Eliot Bostar
Eliot Bostar
NNonpartisan
NE
29