Healthcare

died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 27: Change provisions of the Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act

LB 27 amends Nebraska's Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act to update loan repayment programs for healthcare professionals working in rural shortage areas. It specifically adds a dental loan repayment program for dentists providing Medicaid services, with up to $60,000 annually (capping at $300,000 total), while adjusting caps for other providers (e.g., $90,000 max for physicians). The bill clarifies eligibility requirements, including licensing, practice location in designated shortage areas, and excludes current residency program participants. These changes harmonize existing provisions and specify how Medicaid excess profit funds may support these programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds dental loan repayments for Medicaid dentists ($60k/yr cap) and adjusts provider caps to expand rural healthcare workforce incentives, improving access to services in shortage areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 308: Adopt the Health Care Staffing Agency Registration Act

Nebraska's LB 308, the Health Care Staffing Agency Registration Act, requires health care staffing agencies (including technology platforms that match workers with facilities) to register annually with the Department of Labor for $1,500. The bill prohibits agencies from enforcing noncompete clauses that restrict temporary staff workers' employment options and mandates that agencies verify staff workers' qualifications, maintain professional liability insurance ($1 million per incident), and document compliance. Agencies must also submit quarterly reports to the state detailing average charges to health care facilities and payments to staff by licensing category. This bill directly affects staffing agencies and health care facilities that contract with them, establishing new registration, transparency, and insurance requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires staffing agencies to verify qualifications, maintain insurance, and prohibit noncompetes, improving patient safety and care quality in healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits noncompete clauses restricting temporary staff workers' employment options, directly protecting workers' rights and mobility. Other requirements (registration, qualification verification, insurance) support industry regulation without ha...90% confidence

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 310: Provide an exemption from newborn screening for certain diseases or conditions

This bill amends Nebraska's newborn screening law to explicitly allow parents or guardians to object to screening for specified metabolic disorders. It affects parents who wish to decline the standard screening tests for conditions like phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, and others listed in the law. The key change adds a provision stating that screening is not required if a parent or guardian objects, while maintaining the existing list of screened conditions. This exemption applies to all diseases currently mandated under the law, removing the legal requirement for screening when objections are raised.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill allows parental opt-out from mandatory newborn screening, restricting public health program implementation for metabolic disorders.85% confidence

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 138: Change provisions relating to pharmacy dispensing fees under the Medical Assistance Act

Nebraska's LB 138 changes how pharmacies are paid for dispensing prescriptions under Medicaid. Starting July 1, 2026, independent pharmacies (owning six or fewer locations) and pharmacies as the only option within 30 miles will receive $10.38 per prescription. Other pharmacies will receive tiered fees based on annual prescription volume: $10.38 for under 30,000 prescriptions, $9.51 for 30,000-70,000, and $8.30 for 70,000+ prescriptions. The bill requires the state to conduct cost surveys every two years and adjust fees annually to ensure fair reimbursement for all participating pharmacies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSets higher Medicaid pharmacy fees for independent/rural pharmacies to maintain access, strengthening provider reimbursement under public health program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 369: Allow persons eighteen years of age to make health care decisions and persons under nineteen years of age in correctional facilities to consent to medical and mental health care

Nebraska bill LB 369 changes the age at which certain health decisions can be made without parental consent. It allows individuals aged 18 or older to make their own medical and mental health care decisions, removing the need for parental or guardian approval. The bill also specifically permits youth under 19 who are committed to the Department of Correctional Services to consent to their own medical and mental health care during their incarceration, without parental consent (except as required by other law). This amendment modifies Section 43-2101 of Nebraska law to update these consent provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows incarcerated youth under 19 to consent to medical/mental health care without parental consent, improving healthcare access and rights within correctional facilities.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves parental consent barriers for healthcare decisions, expanding patient autonomy and access for 18+ individuals and incarcerated youth under 19.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 467: Provide a duty to implement a prior authorization application programming interface under the Utilization Review Act

Nebraska's LB 467 requires health insurance companies and review organizations to create a digital connection (API) for prior authorization requests by January 1, 2028, under the state's Utilization Review Act. This applies to most healthcare services except drug coverage requests, which are excluded per the bill's definition. The law harmonizes with existing federal rules (45 C.F.R. 156.223) as they existed in 2025. The bill directly affects insurers and review entities operating in Nebraska, streamlining how they process authorization requests electronically.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to implement digital prior authorization API, improving provider access to care and reducing administrative delays for most healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 174: Change provisions relating to garnishment of wages for medical debt

LB 174 reduces the maximum amount of wages that can be garnished for medical debt from 15% to 10% of an individual's disposable earnings (after taxes and mandatory deductions). It directly affects Nebraska residents with medical debt being collected by medical debt buyers (entities that purchase and collect unpaid medical bills) and medical creditors (hospitals or providers). The bill establishes a new 10% cap for most cases, with a higher 20% limit possible only if the person is not a head of household (verified through a sworn affidavit). It also defines key terms like "medical debt," "medical debt buyer," and "head of household" to clarify eligibility for protections. This change aims to limit wage garnishment specifically for medical debt while maintaining existing rules for other debts like child support or taxes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces wage garnishment cap for medical debt from 15% to 10%, protecting patients from excessive debt collection and improving financial access to healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReduces wage garnishment cap from 15% to 10% for medical debt, protecting workers' disposable earnings from excessive deductions.95% confidence

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died · Nebraska · Legislature Apr 17, 2026

LB 570: Provide for scholarships for nursing students

Nebraska's LB 570 creates a scholarship program for nursing students, providing $2,500 per semester to eligible students enrolled in approved nursing programs. To qualify, students must reside in Nebraska, enroll in an approved associate, diploma, certificate, or accelerated bachelor's nursing program, and agree to work as a nurse in Nebraska for two years after graduation. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to administer the program, with the Legislature intending to appropriate $5 million for fiscal year 2025-26. This policy directly affects nursing students in Nebraska seeking financial support in exchange for a commitment to work in the state's healthcare sector.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for nursing scholarships, constituting government spending under budget management. Directly funds an essential program via appropriations.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates $2,500/semester nursing scholarships, increasing higher education funding and access for students in approved programs, aligning with educational support indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds nursing education to increase healthcare workforce, directly strengthening provider availability and access to health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Healthcare Workforce

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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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