Require appropriations from the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Fund and state intent regarding medicaid rates for mental health providers

This bill requires Nebraska to allocate $1.5 million annually from the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Fund to reimburse mental health providers who serve Medicaid-Medicare dual-eligible patients (people enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare) for behavioral health services. It mandates that these providers receive the higher Medicaid or Medicare rate for such services, rather than a lower combined rate. The funding applies specifically to providers not operating within hospitals, supporting access to mental health care for vulnerable dual-eligible beneficiaries. The bill explicitly states the Legislature's intent to maintain current Medicaid reimbursement rates for these services in the medical assistance program.