This bill expands Nebraska's Young Adult Bridge to Independence program to include young adults not lawfully present in the U.S., removing immigration status as an eligibility barrier. It amends eligibility rules (effective January 2026) to allow these individuals - primarily youth aged 16-24 transitioning from foster care - to access medical care (including Medicaid options), housing support, and case management services. Key provisions require the Department of Health and Human Services to update state plans and ensure services like emergency medical care and foster care maintenance payments are provided regardless of immigration status. The bill directly affects vulnerable young adults in Nebraska's foster care system who would otherwise be excluded from this support.
LB 639 requires dental insurance companies in Nebraska to spend at least 85% of premium revenue on patient care and administrative costs (not profits). Starting in 2026, these companies must meet this "dental loss ratio" and report their annual ratio to the state insurance department starting in 2027. If they fail to meet the 85% threshold, they must refund the excess premiums directly to policyholders. The bill does not apply to dental coverage provided through Medicaid.
This Nebraska constitutional amendment (LR 25CA) would change how state legislators are paid and covered. Starting January 6, 2027, legislators would receive the state minimum wage instead of the current $1,000 monthly salary. It also requires the state to provide health insurance with benefits matching Medicaid coverage for all legislators. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election to take effect.
LB 463 requires Nebraska school districts to develop cardiac emergency response plans for sudden cardiac arrests during school activities. These plans must include specific elements like a response team, automated defibrillator placement, staff training (including CPR and AED use), annual drills, and coordination with emergency services, based on American Heart Association standards. The bill directs the State Department of Education to provide grants from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund to cover costs for these plans. It amends school safety laws to integrate cardiac response planning into existing safety reporting requirements, affecting all public school districts in Nebraska. The funding mechanism ensures grants are available without diverting other Medicaid resources.
LB 41A is an appropriation bill that allocates specific state and federal funds to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for two Medicaid-related programs (344 and 348) to support implementation of Legislative Bill 41. It provides $28,021 (state and federal combined) for Program 344 and $155,579 for Program 348 in fiscal year 2025-26, with similar amounts for 2026-27. The funds must be used exclusively for their designated program purposes and cannot cover state employee salaries. This bill directly affects the Department of Health and Human Services and the Medicaid programs it administers.
LB 22A is an appropriation bill that allocates specific funds to support Legislative Bill 22. It provides $380,628 from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund and $694,972 in federal funds for fiscal year 2025-26, and $774,002 plus $1,377,198 for 2026-27, all to the Department of Health and Human Services' Program 348. These funds are designated exclusively to carry out the provisions of LB 22, with no use permitted for state employee salaries or per diems. The bill directly affects the state's Medicaid program administration by providing targeted financial resources for its implementation.
Nebraska's LB 553 expands eligibility under the Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act to include dietitian nutritionist students and professionals in loan programs. It adds "dietitian nutritionist program" to qualifying education pathways for student loans and includes dietitian nutritionists in the loan repayment program, with a $15,000 annual cap and $45,000 lifetime maximum for full-time practice in designated health shortage areas. The bill also requires the commission to designate shortage areas specifically for dietitian nutritionist practice and mandates that recipients agree to practice in these areas and accept Medicaid patients. This change harmonizes dietitian nutritionist provisions with existing categories like physicians and mental health practitioners. The bill was amended into LB 312 before passing.
LB 382A appropriates $2 million from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to the Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are designated for Program 571 to support the implementation of Legislative Bill 382. The bill specifies that the money must be used solely for state aid and cannot cover salaries or per diems for state employees.
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.
This bill requires most health insurance plans and Nebraska's Medicaid program (medical assistance) to cover FDA-approved self-administered hormonal contraceptives without cost-sharing. It mandates coverage for up to a 3-month supply for the first prescription and up to a 12-month supply for subsequent refills, regardless of when the policyholder enrolled. The law prevents insurers from charging extra if someone switches contraceptive methods before finishing their current supply. It directly affects individuals with these insurance plans who use prescribed hormonal contraceptives. The bill amends existing law to establish these coverage requirements and repeals the previous section.
