Many Nebraskans with disabilities are covered by a state-run Medicaid program when accessing health care by health care providers who accept Medicaid coverage. This operates much like insurance for people who are enrolled in Medicaid. However, reforming Medicaid is often a topic of conversation among elected officials when it comes to saving money for tax payers. Currently, Nebraska has a Medicaid Reform Council that is assigned the task of examining the way in which Medicaid benefits are allocated.
As a result, some caps on Medicaid services have been proposed. This would set limits on the amount or types of services that people with Medicaid are able to recieve. There are also discussions of having families of children with disabilities also pay a premium, much like regular insurance, for the services they need. This is in addition to regular insurance premiums they may already be paying. These types of cuts and premiums are very concerning to Nebraskans with disaiblities and their families.
In the last legislative session, LB 610 was introduced. LB 610 provides an exceptions process to the rigid caps and premiums described above. The Arc of Nebraska provided testimony in the last legislative session and it has been carried over to the session beginning in January 2010. We will be closely tracking the progress on this bill and will be sending out ways in which you can become involved to make sure that Medicaid is beneficial to those who need it.
For talking points on LB 610, click here.
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