LB 871 increases the dollar limits protecting savings and property from creditor claims, including medical/health savings accounts and homestead property. It requires Nebraska’s Department of Revenue to adjust these exemption amounts every five years starting July 1, 2030, using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to reflect inflation and rounding to the nearest $100. This ensures protections for Nebraska residents’ savings and home equity keep pace with rising living costs. The bill directly affects all individuals relying on these exemptions to shield assets from garnishment, bankruptcy, or other enforcement actions.
LB 1056 updates Nebraska's Workers' Compensation Act to improve support for non-English speaking workers and streamline benefit calculations. It requires employers to cover interpreter services for medical and compensation-related needs, with interpreters selected from an official state register. The bill also changes physician selection rules to prioritize providers familiar with the employee's medical history, adds annual cost-of-living adjustments to income benefits, and clarifies payment rules for benefits to a personal representative if an employee dies. These changes directly affect injured workers, employers, and healthcare providers under Nebraska's workers' compensation system.
LB 867 amends multiple Nebraska statutes governing health and human services programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. It directly affects individuals receiving state benefits, including those in medical assistance, child care, and the "Bridge to Independence" program for young adults. Key changes include eliminating spousal asset requirements for medical assistance, adjusting eligibility for the Bridge to Independence program, modifying child care grant funding, and removing obsolete provisions like the Maternal and Child Health Work Fund. The bill also repeals outdated rules, such as the Nurse Licensure Compact and certain fingerprint requirements under the Uniform Credentialing Act.
LB 775 creates the Rural Health Transformation Program within Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to improve healthcare in rural areas. The program directly affects rural healthcare providers, patients, and communities by focusing on increasing access, quality, and outcomes through specific mechanisms: supporting health innovations, strengthening provider sustainability, recruiting healthcare workers, developing new care models, and expanding digital health tools. It requires using federal funds received from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) exclusively for these purposes, as specified in the bill's funding section. The program aims to transform rural healthcare delivery without specifying new taxes or mandatory requirements.
LB 1016 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a federal waiver by July 1, 2026, to allow Medicaid reimbursement for traditional healing services. This bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly American Indian and Alaska Native communities, by enabling access to culturally grounded health practices previously excluded from coverage. Key provisions mandate tribal consultation in defining services and provider eligibility, ensure traditional healing does not replace standard Medicaid care, and require budget neutrality. The waiver aims to improve health equity through services developed with tribal nations, as specified in the bill's requirement for federal approval under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act.
LB 731, the Gender Transition Malpractice Accountability Act, extends the time period for filing malpractice lawsuits related to gender-altering procedures, allowing individuals more time to seek legal action if harm is discovered later in life. It requires insurance companies to cover certain medical treatments and procedures that arise from gender-altering procedures, such as complications from surgeries or hormone therapies. The bill also modifies civil action rules under the Let Them Grow Act and excludes medical services for disorders of sex development or acute treatments for infections or injuries caused by the procedure.
Nebraska's LB 779 prohibits health care facilities and medical debt collection agencies from charging interest or late fees on medical debt for 90 days after the final invoice is due, with any annual interest capped at 3%. The bill also prevents liens or foreclosures on a patient's primary residence to collect unpaid medical bills. It directly affects patients who owe medical debt by limiting collection practices and protecting their homes from debt-related property seizures. The law applies to all medical debt defined as obligations for health care services, as specified in the bill.
LB 1043 would amend Nebraska's Medical Assistance Act to remove an exclusion preventing antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants from being considered for inclusion on the state's preferred drug list. This change would allow the Department of Health to evaluate these medications for the preferred list based on therapeutic equivalence and cost-effectiveness (after rebates/discounts), rather than automatically excluding them. The bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who use these prescription drugs, potentially making them more accessible and affordable under the program. It does not create new coverage but changes the process for adding these drug classes to the list.
Nebraska's LB 1194, the Real Food Act, establishes state dietary guidelines prioritizing whole, nutrient-dense foods for public health. It requires state agencies (Health, Agriculture, Education) and programs like school lunches to update educational materials by 2027 to align with specific food recommendations: emphasizing whole proteins (including animal and plant sources), whole-food fats (like nuts and avocados), colorful produce, full-fat dairy without added sugar, and fiber-rich whole grains over refined carbs. The bill directs agencies to launch public awareness campaigns and partner with communities to promote these guidelines, while highlighting Nebraska-produced foods. It directly affects state nutrition programs, schools, and healthcare services that serve residents. The guidelines become effective January 1, 2027.
LB 1132 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to file a state plan amendment with federal authorities to add coverage for long-acting injectable and extended-release medications under the Medicaid program. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who require these specific medications as prescribed by a healthcare provider. The bill amends the Medical Assistance Act to mandate this coverage, aligning with federal Medicaid requirements. The key mechanism is the state's obligation to seek federal approval for the coverage change through a formal plan amendment. This is a policy change to expand existing Medicaid benefits, not a new program.
