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Nebraska Medicaid expansion plan draws lawmaker scrutiny

Posted on April 11, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s plan to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law drew heavy scrutiny Thursday from lawmakers concerned about what services it will provide and the newly proposed “wellness and life success” requirements necessary to get full coverage.

Administrators in the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services outlined the plan to a joint legislative committee but said it’s too early to know exactly how it will look when it goes live around October 2020.

One major uncertainty is the benefits that will be available to low-income residents who sign up for coverage. Some benefits, such as medical checkups and hospital visits, are mandatory under federal law for states participating in Medicaid.

But other benefits, including physical therapy, mental health treatment and hospice care, are considered optional. Nebraska’s plan isn’t likely to cover all 19 optional services, said Rocky Thompson, a deputy director for Nebraska’s Medicaid and Long-Term Care division.

“We haven’t made any decisions yet about the exact benefit package,” Thompson said.

The proposal unveiled last week creates a basic plan for all newly qualified recipients and a premium plan that’s only available to people who are working, in school, volunteering or caring for a relative. The premium plan would cover dental and vision appointments, as well as over-the-counter drugs.

Nebraska Medicaid and Long-Term Care Director Matthew Van Patton said the two plans were an effort to provide “an innovative route to wellness and life success” for Medicaid recipients. The department operates under the administration of Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, who opposed efforts to expand Medicaid in the Legislature but promised to respect the wishes of voters who approved it in November .

“We care about treating the whole person and want them to live a full and productive life,” Van Patton said.

Some lawmakers who support the Affordable Care Act questioned the need for the extra requirements needed to get premium coverage.

Sen. Tony Vargas, whose south Omaha district is one of the biggest beneficiaries of Medicaid expansion, called the requirements “punitive” and voiced concern about patients bouncing back and forth between the different plans.

“I’m just worried we’re creating more hoops for people to walk through,” he said.

Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln questioned whether the wellness incentives would prove effective. She said she has participated in similar programs that worked well and others “that were a complete joke.”

Wishart said she was also concerned that officials were making the program needlessly complicated and possibly costing the state more because state employees will have to monitor recipients to ensure they’re meeting the requirements. Van Patton said the state workers who would check compliance will have to be hired anyway for other tasks.

The ballot measure requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a state Medicaid plan amendment to the federal government to cover an estimated 90,000 newly eligible, low-income residents.

Once it’s in place, coverage will become available to adults ages 19 to 64 who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level — about $16,753 per year. The federal government is required to pay 90 percent of the program’s cost in 2020 and subsequent years.

Nebraska officials are working with private “managed care organizations” that will provide health care services on the state’s behalf. Nebraska already uses their services for current Medicaid recipients, but officials now have to amend all of their contracts to cover the newly eligible.

Van Patton said any legislative bill that tries to modify the agency’s plan could lead to more delays. Some lawmakers and advocacy groups have criticized the department’s plan to go live on Oct. 1, 2020, as too slow. Van Patton defended the long timeline as necessary to make sure the launch runs smoothly.

NDOT begins to reopen I-80, Highways

Posted on April 11, 2019

The Nebraska Department of Transportation is beginning to open up roadways in Nebraska after the winter storm forced numerous closures.

Here are the latest updates:

I-80 Eastbound is beginning to open in the panhandle, we will be opening I-80 Eastbound as well through the region.

I-80 West Bound will be opening from Big Springs to the Wyoming Line and to I-76 to Colorado.

I-80 West Bound remains closed from Kearney to Big Springs.

Traffic is advised to drive slow, Expect blowing snow and areas of reduced visibility.

Ricketts rips property tax bill that would raise some taxes

Posted on April 11, 2019April 12, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts isn’t happy with a tentative proposal that seeks to reduce property taxes by imposing other taxes.

Ricketts criticized the measure Thursday in a news conference with Nebraska realtors and home builders, who oppose parts of the bill that could raise documentary stamp taxes on real estate.

Ricketts says he opposes any effort to shift a tax burden from one group to another. He previously joined forces with grocers to oppose provisions that would impose a tax on pop and candy.

Members of the tax-focused Revenue Committee haven’t yet voted on the package. Some senators argue that farmers are shouldering an increasingly large share of the tax burden.

NP man accused of manufacturing, possessing child pornography

Posted on April 11, 2019

An 18-year-old North Platte man is facing charges after officers investigating suspicious activity allegedly found him in possession of child pornography.

According to Officer Beth Kerr, on April 10 at around 5:11 p.m., officers responded to the report of suspicious activity in the 500 block of West Ninth Street.

Officers met with Tyrece Nebarez and several other subjects.

Officer Kerr says officers found Nebarez to be in possession of an image that was determined to be child pornography. He was arrested and transported to the police department for questioning.

After questioning, it was determined that there was probable cause to charge Nebarez with four felonies: possession of child pornography (Class IV Felony), manufacturing child pornography (Class III Felony), and two counts of first-degree sexual assault (Class II Felony).

Nebarez was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed.

Jail record show that Nebarez is being held without bail.

Ag census: Number of Nebraska farms dropped 7% over 5 years

Posted on April 11, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The latest Census of Agriculture for Nebraska says the number of farms in the state has dropped 7% from five years earlier.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said in a news release Thursday that there were more than 46,300 farms in Nebraska during 2017. They covered 45 million acres (18.2 million hectares) — down 1% from the 2012 census. The average farm in 2017 had 971 acres (393 hectares), compared with 1,035 acres (419 hectares) five years earlier.

The department report says the total value of agricultural products sold in 2017 was $22 billion, down 5% from 2012. The report also says 58% percent of the value was in livestock and 42% in crops. Average net income per farm in 2017 was more than $87,800 — down 19% from 2012.

The department’s National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts the census every five years.

Roads in Lincoln County closed due to weather

Posted on April 11, 2019April 11, 2019

The Lincoln County Roads Department has announced several road closings in the County.

County Highway Superintendent Carla O’Dell announced the following closures:

-Ft. McPherson Road south of Brady is closed to through traffic

-State Farm Road is closed

-Walker Road is closed

-North River Road from South Highway 83 is closed

O’Dell says the roads will be reopened when Interstate 80 and Highway 30 are reopened.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation has closed Interstate 80 and Highway 30 to westbound traffic at Lexington.

Law enforcement is reporting whiteout conditions in the entire area.

Casino backers revive ballot campaign to legalize gambling

Posted on April 11, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Groups that want to legalize casino gambling in Nebraska are reviving a petition drive that seeks to put the issue before voters in the 2020 general election.

The campaign committee Keep the Money in Nebraska is preparing another constitutional amendment that would allow gambling at state-licensed horse racing tracks. The effort was announced Thursday by Ho-Chunk, Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

A similar effort failed in 2016 when the secretary of state’s office announced that supporters didn’t submit enough verified signatures to place the issue on the ballot. Organizers turned in nearly 120,000 signatures, which would have been enough, but nearly 42,000 were rejected as invalid for various reasons.

Organizers say they’re using a new signature collection group for this attempt.

NPPD Activity Log (4.10.19-4.11.19)

Posted on April 11, 2019

Call Date

Call Time

Call Number

RMS CFS Description

Location Of Incident

04/10/2019