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(Lincoln, NE) -- The first day of the 109th legislature in Nebraska is tomorrow. For two members of the unicameral, access to health care in rural areas is a priority. Last session, Sen. Mike Jacobson (R-Lincoln County) introduced LB 1087, or the Hospital Quality Insurance and Access Assessment Act, which gives hospitals access to federal Medicaid money.
"As I look across rural Nebraska, and certainly out in my area of the state where North Platte is, that there are hospitals that are really struggling," Sen. Jacobson says. "Frankly, I think without 1087 and additional Medicaid reimbursements, they would be closing."
He says the bill will give over $1 billion to Nebraska hospitals. This year, it could get a companion.
"This coming year...to work on a companion bill that won't be as robust," Sen. Jacobson says. "But again, a federal program. That would allow higher reimbursements for doctors and other practitioners directly."
For State Sen. Brian Hardin (R-Scotts Bluff County), the focus is on managing 340B, a federal program put in place to regulate drug prices.
"It's like holding onto a giant fire hose somewhere in the middle," Sen. Hardin says. "You're not directing where that water goes to fight the fire, but you're hanging on and getting thrashed about by the giant hose. We didn't pass 340B in that chamber. But we do have to basically approve the ability to keep passing those discounts and so forth on to the 2/3rds of Nebraska hospitals that rely on them as well as the specialty centers."
The session begins tomorrow and is scheduled to last until day 90 on June 9th.