LB 322 increases penalties for assaulting specific professionals while they are working. It makes assault on pharmacists, healthcare workers (including hospital/clinic staff), and emergency responders a higher felony classification when committed during their duties at pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics. The bill defines "pharmacist" as a state-licensed pharmacy practitioner and "health care professional" to include all employees at healthcare facilities. This amendment enhances existing assault penalties for these targeted groups without creating new prohibitions. The bill is currently postponed indefinitely in Nebraska's legislative process.
LB 158 requires Nebraska health insurance plans and pharmacy benefit managers to count all payments made by patients (or others on their behalf) toward their annual out-of-pocket maximum. This includes copays, deductibles, and costs for services like prescriptions, ensuring all such payments reduce the yearly limit patients must pay before full coverage kicks in. The law applies to new or renewed health plans after January 1, 2026, with a limited exception for health savings accounts that must first meet a minimum deductible before counting toward the maximum (though preventive care always counts). It directly affects health plan enrollees by clarifying how their out-of-pocket costs are calculated.
LB 527 creates a Medicaid Access and Quality Fund by imposing a 6% tax on certain health insurance premiums starting January 2026. The fund will increase payments to nonhospital Medicaid providers (like clinics and doctors) to improve access to care, especially for rural patients, pregnant women, and children. It also allocates $75 monthly per patient to primary care providers who serve as medical homes for Medicaid beneficiaries. This directly affects Nebraska Medicaid beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and insurance companies paying the tax.
LB 110 requires health care providers to obtain written consent before performing a pelvic exam on a patient who is unconscious or under anesthesia in a hospital or clinic, unless it's an emergency, authorized by a decision-maker, or court-ordered. It directly affects patients unable to consent and health care providers who must follow these rules. The bill mandates written notification to patients before discharge if such an exam was performed, and violations could lead to disciplinary action under Nebraska's credentialing laws. This legislation aims to protect patient autonomy during medical procedures requiring unconsciousness.
Nebraska's LB 109 prohibits health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from imposing restrictions that limit patient access to clinician-administered drugs - such as those given in a doctor's office or clinic rather than a pharmacy. It bans insurers from charging extra fees, requiring specific pharmacy use, or denying coverage when drugs are administered by healthcare providers. The bill also requires PBMs to allow pharmacists to discuss treatment options, costs, and alternatives with patients and prohibits penalizing pharmacies for sharing information about their practices. These changes directly affect insurers, health plans, and PBMs in how they handle drug coverage and patient communications.
LB 26 would expand legal protections against assault to include all employees at hospitals and health clinics, not just licensed medical staff like doctors or nurses. It redefines "health care professional" in Nebraska's assault statutes to explicitly cover non-clinical workers such as receptionists, administrative staff, and support personnel. This change ensures that anyone working in these facilities - regardless of their specific role - would be protected under existing laws for assault against healthcare workers. The bill directly affects thousands of frontline healthcare employees who previously may not have been explicitly included in these legal safeguards.
