Healthcare (Medical Licensing)

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 257: Change licensure and scope of practice provisions regarding marriage and family therapy and occupational therapy and licensure requirements under the Child Care Licensing Act

This bill updates licensing rules for therapists and child care providers in Nebraska. It creates a new pathway for marriage and family therapists licensed in other states to obtain Nebraska licenses by meeting requirements (like passing a Nebraska jurisprudence exam), without needing to retake all exams. It also clarifies the scope of practice for occupational therapists by defining specific treatment modalities (like electrotherapeutic devices). Additionally, it changes liability insurance requirements for child care facility licensees and inspectors under the Child Care Licensing Act. These changes directly affect therapists seeking to practice in Nebraska and child care providers operating under state licensing rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUpdates therapist licensing to improve mental health access by reducing barriers for out-of-state practitioners and clarifying scope of practice for therapists.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 217: Require suicide awareness and prevention training for employees of child-placing agencies and child welfare workers

This bill requires annual suicide awareness and prevention training for all child welfare workers and employees of child-placing agencies in Nebraska. It mandates that this training, developed by the Department of Health and Human Services in consultation with mental health experts, must cover recognizing early warning signs and trauma-informed responses for youth in the child welfare system. The training is now a requirement for initial and renewed licensure of child welfare providers and agencies, effective October 1, 2025. This directly affects over 1,000 licensed foster care providers and child welfare staff who interact with children and families in Nebraska's system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates suicide prevention training for child welfare workers with mental health experts, focusing on recognizing warning signs and trauma-informed responses for youth. Directly supports mental health services within healthcare topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 374: Adopt the Licensed Midwives Practice Act

LB 374 creates a new Licensed Midwives Practice Act in Nebraska, replacing the outdated "Licensed Midwives Practical Nurse-Certified" designation with a dedicated midwifery licensing framework. The bill adds "professional midwifery" to the list of regulated professions under Nebraska's Uniform Credentialing Act, establishing specific standards for midwife licensure, practice, and background checks. It directly affects midwives seeking or renewing licenses in Nebraska by requiring them to meet the new practice act's requirements instead of the previous, less specific rules. The bill harmonizes midwifery regulation with other healthcare professions and repeals the prior sections governing midwifery practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dedicated licensure framework for midwives, improving regulated access to maternal healthcare services and modernizing professional standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 367: Prohibit conversion therapy and provide for disciplinary sanctions and a deceptive trade practice

LB 367 prohibits licensed medical and mental health professionals (including doctors, psychologists, nurses, and pharmacists) from providing conversion therapy, gender identity conversion therapy, or sexual orientation conversion therapy to individuals under 19 years old. The bill amends Nebraska’s Uniform Credentialing Act to add "providing conversion therapy" as a specific ground for disciplinary action, including license suspension or revocation. It also bans the use of state funds for conversion therapy and defines the prohibited practice as any effort to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The law directly affects practitioners in the Medicine and Surgery, Mental Health, Nurse, Pharmacy, and Psychology practice acts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits conversion therapy for minors by mental health professionals, protecting patient rights and supporting safe mental health services through disciplinary enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Prescription Drugs

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 676: Change and eliminate provisions relating to certified nurse midwives and provide for applicability of the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act

Nebraska bill LB 676 changes regulations for certified nurse midwives by eliminating required "practice agreements" between midwives and collaborating physicians. It updates definitions and scope of practice provisions (amending sections 38-206, 38-601, 38-603, 38-604, 38-606, 38-607, 38-608, 38-610, 38-611, and 44-2803) and makes the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act apply to midwives. The bill removes outdated sections (38-609, 38-613, and 38-614) while keeping midwives' core services - like prenatal care, childbirth support, and gynecological care - unchanged. This affects certified nurse midwives, their collaborative relationships with physicians, and their medical liability coverage under state law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves required physician collaboration for midwives, expanding their scope of practice and improving access to care without reducing services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Medical Licensing

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 630: Provide and change scope of practice requirements under the Occupational Therapy Practice Act

LB 630 amends Nebraska's Occupational Therapy Practice Act to clarify and update scope-of-practice rules for occupational therapists and assistants. It redefines key terms like "electrotherapeutic agent modalities" (Sec. 38-2507) and "physical agent modalities" (Sec. 38-2513), specifies permitted treatments (e.g., heat/cold therapy, electrical stimulation), and refines temporary license rules (Sec. 38-2517). The bill directly affects licensed therapists, assistants, students in training, and healthcare workers in related fields who may perform overlapping tasks under defined conditions. These changes aim to modernize practice standards while maintaining clear boundaries for who can provide specific treatments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies scope for occupational therapists, enabling expanded permitted treatments (e.g., electrical stimulation) and improving access to therapy services per updated practice rules.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 436: Change provisions of the Nebraska Regulation of Health Professions Act

LB 436 updates Nebraska's rules for regulating health professions and changing their scope of practice. It requires new or expanding health professions to prove unregulated practice harms public health, that regulation won't create economic barriers, and that new competency standards will protect patients. This affects health professionals seeking state licensing or expanded practice authority, as well as the state agencies reviewing their applications. The bill sets clear, evidence-based criteria to determine when regulation is necessary, replacing outdated language in the existing law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires evidence-based regulation to protect patients and prevent economic barriers in health professions licensing, aligning with patient protection and access indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Public Health Tags Licensing

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 554: Create the Nebraska Health Professions Commission

LB 554 creates the Nebraska Health Professions Commission to review applications for new health professions or changes to scope of practice for existing regulated health professions. The commission will evaluate proposals using criteria including public health impacts, workforce shortages, healthcare quality, access, and patient affordability, while holding public hearings. It replaces previous "technical committees," requires co-chairs from public health and population health research, and must submit annual reports to the Legislature by October 1. The bill allocates $300,000 annually for the commission, including $100,000 to fund data collection through the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Health Professions Tracking Service.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates commission to evaluate health professions using access, affordability, and quality criteria, directly advancing patient access and healthcare quality standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Public Health

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 533: Provide requirements relating to clinician-administered drugs under the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act

This bill adds specific requirements for "clinician-administered drugs" (outpatient drugs that cannot be self-administered and must be given in clinics, hospitals, or similar settings by a healthcare provider) under Nebraska's Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) regulations. It requires specialty pharmacies shipping these drugs to provide 24/7 pharmacist/nurse access, allow refill requests through PBMs/health plans, and comply with federal drug tracking rules. The bill also mandates that PBMs or health plans must establish a clear appeal process for providers if drugs aren't delivered on time or if urgent care is needed to prevent immediate harm. These changes directly affect specialty pharmacies, PBMs, and healthcare providers administering these drugs, effective January 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires PBMs to provide 24/7 clinician access and streamline refills for clinician-administered drugs, improving patient access to essential medications under PBM regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Prescription Drugs

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signed · Nebraska · Legislature Mar 3, 2026

LB 110: Provide requirements for intimate examinations of certain body parts

LB 110 requires health care providers to obtain written consent before performing a pelvic exam on a patient who is unconscious or under anesthesia in a hospital or clinic, unless it's an emergency, authorized by a decision-maker, or court-ordered. It directly affects patients unable to consent and health care providers who must follow these rules. The bill mandates written notification to patients before discharge if such an exam was performed, and violations could lead to disciplinary action under Nebraska's credentialing laws. This legislation aims to protect patient autonomy during medical procedures requiring unconsciousness.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires written consent for non-emergency pelvic exams on incapacitated patients, protecting patient autonomy and rights in healthcare settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medical Licensing Primary Care