Healthcare

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 198: Change provisions of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act

LB 198 amends Nebraska's Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) regulations to directly affect specialty pharmacies, pharmacists, and PBMs. It prohibits PBMs from excluding accredited specialty pharmacies from their networks and bans "spread pricing" (where PBMs charge health plans different prices than they pay pharmacies for drugs). The bill also allows network pharmacists to decline to dispense a drug as prescribed and updates definitions for terms like "clinician-administered drugs" and "specialty pharmacy." These changes aim to increase transparency, protect pharmacy access, and clarify PBM obligations under state law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans spread pricing and prohibits PBM exclusion of specialty pharmacies, improving drug access/transparency. Allows pharmacists to decline unsafe prescriptions, protecting patient safety and provider rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Prescription Drugs

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 55: State intent regarding appropriations for medicaid rates for mental health providers

LB 55 allocates $1.5 million from the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Fund for FY2025-26 to maintain Medicaid reimbursement rates for mental health providers who serve patients eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare (dual-eligible). It specifically ensures these providers - those not practicing in hospitals - are paid at current Medicaid rates for behavioral health services (Program 348) when Medicare rates are lower. The bill directly affects mental health providers serving dual-eligible Medicaid/Medicare patients by preventing reduced payments. Note: This bill was amended into LB261 on June 6, 2025, and is no longer active.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.5M from Hospital Quality Fund to maintain Medicaid rates for mental health providers, ensuring continued funding for essential services without rate cuts.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $1.5M to maintain Medicaid rates for mental health providers serving dual-eligible patients, preventing rate reductions and ensuring continued access to behavioral health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

Track

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 253: Provide for insurance and medicaid coverage of biomarker testing

Nebraska's LB 253 requires health insurers and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence. This includes tests approved by the FDA, aligned with drug labels, or recommended by nationally recognized clinical guidelines. Insurers must cover these tests without unnecessary delays, approving or denying prior authorization requests within 24-72 hours, and provide clear exception processes for patients. The law applies to all health insurers and Medicaid plans in Nebraska, effective January 1, 2026, directly affecting patients needing these tests and healthcare providers ordering them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing, expanding patient access to necessary diagnostics without unnecessary delays.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 621: State legislative intent regarding appropriations and provide for transfers from the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund

LB 621 mandates annual transfers from Nebraska's Medicaid Intergovernmental Trust Fund and Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund into the Nebraska Health Care Cash Fund. It specifies exact transfer amounts (e.g., $61.654 million for 2025-26) and requires adjustments based on unused funds in the Health Care Cash Fund. The bill also directs funding for community health centers (e.g., $700,000 per center for expanded services like dental or behavioral health) and pancreatic cancer research at UNMC, contingent on matching private funds. These transfers and funding allocations are legally required, with the State Treasurer responsible for implementation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual transfers from trust funds to Health Care Cash Fund, directing $61.654M for 2025-26 and funding community health centers/research, strengthening public health budget allocations.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transfers to Health Care Cash Fund, funds community health centers ($700k each) and UNMC cancer research, directly expanding healthcare funding and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

Track

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 581: Appropriate funds to the Department of Health and Human Services

LB 581 was a funding bill that allocated $3,000,000 from the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services. The funds were specifically designated for behavioral health services for youth in facilities that also operate early childhood development centers. The bill was amended into another measure (LB261) on June 6, 2025, and did not create new policies or regulations. It directly affected youth receiving behavioral health services at participating facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3M from General Fund for youth behavioral health services, directly funding a public service under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $3M specifically for youth behavioral health services, directly funding mental health care under healthcare topic with clear intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health

Track

died · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 278: Change requirements for certain insurance policies and contracts

LB 278 requires insurance companies in Nebraska to provide clear, easy-to-understand information about coverage, costs, and prior authorization rules to consumers before they buy a policy. It mandates that insurers make customer satisfaction survey results available upon request and establish committees with provider input to review medical policies and quality standards. The bill also standardizes how insurers credential healthcare providers (allowing annual applications) and creates formal appeal processes for providers who are denied contracts or excluded from networks. Additionally, it prohibits excluding providers who treat patients with complex medical conditions or hold specific permits, unless they fail to meet established quality or access criteria.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates clear insurance info, provider input in policy reviews, and standardized credentialing - enhancing transparency, patient access, and quality standards in healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Track

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 701: Provide for reimbursement of doula services by the Department of Health and Human Services

Nebraska's LB 701 mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services reimburse providers for doula services by state funds starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects Medicaid recipients seeking pregnancy and birth support, as doulas provide non-clinical emotional, physical, and informational care before, during, and after childbirth. The bill requires the department to establish a diverse work group (including doulas, communities of color, rural representatives, and birth advocates) by October 2026 to set reimbursement rates and define training/certification standards. This policy aims to improve birth outcomes - reducing cesarean rates, interventions, and complications - by integrating doula support into state Medicaid coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid reimbursement for doula services, expanding coverage for pregnancy/birth support under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 77: Adopt the Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act and provide for insurance and medicaid coverage of biomarker testing

Nebraska's LB 77 adopts the Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act, requiring health insurers and Medicaid to clearly explain prior authorization decisions and post all requirements online by 2027. The law mandates that denials must be reviewed by a physician (or clinical peer) and include specific reasons citing coverage criteria, with expedited reviews for urgent care. It also requires insurers to cover biomarker testing - tests that identify specific biological markers for diagnosis - when prescribed by a doctor. This directly affects health insurers, providers, and patients by increasing transparency in coverage decisions and expanding access to certain diagnostic tests.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer coverage of biomarker testing and transparency in prior authorization, improving patient access to care and protecting rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 48A: Appropriation Bill

This bill appropriates $1 million from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund for each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are specifically designated for Program 33 to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 48 (which establishes Medicaid managed care reforms). The appropriation includes a $60,000 annual cap on salary and per diem expenses for the program. The bill becomes effective September 1, 2025, and directly affects Medicaid program administration.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M annually from existing fund to implement Medicaid reforms, directly funding a state program per appropriation language.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $1M annually from Medicaid fund to implement managed care reforms, directly funding healthcare program implementation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Medicaid

signed · Nebraska · Legislature Jun 6, 2025

LB 312: Include nurse anesthesia practice and dietitian nutrition practice under the Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act

This bill adds nurse anesthetists and dietitian nutritionists to Nebraska's Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act. It expands eligibility for student loans and loan repayment programs to include these professions, allowing them to qualify for financial assistance if they practice in designated health shortage areas. Specifically, nurse anesthetists and dietitian nutritionists become eligible for up to $15,000 annually in loan repayment (capped at $45,000 total) under the same terms as other qualifying healthcare providers like nurse practitioners and physical therapists. The bill amends existing statutes to formally include these professions in program eligibility and shortage area designations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds loan repayment for rural healthcare professionals in health shortage areas, advancing public health services through state budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands loan repayment for nurse anesthetists/dietitians in rural health shortage areas, directly improving access to healthcare services and workforce availability in underserved regions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce