Voices for Children in Nebraska

As introduced: LB 1129 requires health insurance plans sold in Nebraska on or after January 1, 2013 to provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder for children (under age 21).  Providing for some exceptions, coverage will not be subject to any limits on the number of visits and not be [...]

As introduced: The bill would clarify the definition of medical necessity and Nebraska’s obligation not to discriminate the availability of appropriate services on the basis of age or diagnosis. In making a medical necessity determination, there would be a presumption in favor of the treating physician. It would also reemphasize federal obligation to provide early [...]

As introduced:  The bill would provide grant funding for the start-up costs of new school-based health centers with a preference for health shortage and high poverty areas. Introducing Senator(s): Nordquist, Ashford, Campbell, Council, Howard, Mello Committee: Education Committee Committee Hearing Date: January 31, 2012 Current Status: Motion to override gubernatorial veto failed on April 18, [...]

As introduced: Every year on December 1st, the Director of the Nebraska Medicaid Program submits a letter to the Legislature detailing intended cuts to Medicaid services.  This bill would have restored the proposed cuts. Introducing Senator(s): Nordquist, Avery, Bloomfield, Campbell, Conrad, Cook, Council, Dubas, Gloor, Howard, Krist, McGill, Mello Committee: Appropriations Committee Committee Hearing Date: [...]

As introduced: This bill would create a task force to review and provide recommendations on the use of psychotropic drugs by state wards and the administration of these drugs. As amended: none Introducing Senator(s): Howard Committee: HHS Committee Hearing Date: January 5, 2012 Current Status: amended into LB 821 – Create the Nebraska Children’s Commission [...]

As introduced: The bill would require legislative approval of all significant policy changes to the Medicaid program including cutting or eliminating services or increasing co-pays. Introducing Senator(s): Dubas, Bloomfield, Campbell, Cook, Krist, Lathrop, McGill, Mello, Nordquist Committee: Health and Human Services Committee Committee Hearing Date: January 25, 2012 Current Status: Indefinitely postponed. Estimated Fiscal Impact:  [...]

As introduced:  The bill would require blood-lead testing prior to school enrollment and refer parents whose children have high blood-lead levels to special education resources. As amended: The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a prevention and outreach plan to prevent and treat elevated blood lead levels.  Children receiving health [...]

This bill would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a state plan amendment or waiver to provide prenatal services under the targeted low-income child health option of the CHIP. Program services would be prenatal care and pregnancy-related services connected to the health of the unborn child whose mothers meet program [...]

Milo Perkins, the administrator of the first food stamp program in the late 1930s, described the reason for its existence as such:  “We got a picture of a gorge, with farm surpluses on one cliff and under-nourished city folks with outstretched hands on the other. We set out to find a practical way to build [...]

Yesterday, our state legislature overrode a Gubernatorial veto on LB 599, a bill to restore prenatal care for all low-income Nebraska babies.   As many of you know, Voices for Children and others have been fighting to restore this care since it was lost in 2010. Today,  there are many reasons to be proud and to [...]