Prenatal program for Medicaid mothers passes in Nebraska

LINCOLN — Nebraska would bolster efforts to increase the health of at-risk babies and mothers under a bill passed by the Legislature last week.

Legislative Bill 857, introduced by State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, would establish the Nebraska Prenatal Plus Program within Medicaid. The measure passed on a 45-0 vote and was among several approved and sent to the governor's desk.

The program created under LB 857 would seek to reduce the numbers of low birthweight babies, preventable preterm births and other adverse birth outcomes. It would connect at-risk, pregnant women who are eligible for Medicaid with health care services not currently covered by Medicaid.

Those services would include nutrition counseling, therapy, general health education, breastfeeding support and targeted case management. The program would pay enhanced rates for the services.

Dungan said preterm and low birthweight babies are among Nebraska's most significant neonatal health problems. In 2021, 1 in 9 Nebraska babies were born early and 1 in 13 Nebraska babies were born with a low birthweight.

Babies born preterm and with low birthweight have infant mortality rates 25 times greater than normal birthweight babies. Beyond infancy, such babies are more likely to experience effects into adulthood such as vision, respiratory, gastrointestinal, immunologic, motor and cognitive complications.

Money for the new services would be drawn from the state's Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund. The fund holds money from the state's three Medicaid managed care companies, which are required to turn over their profits above a certain contracted level.

LB 857 also would require Medicaid to cover continuous glucose monitors for pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Medicaid coverage for breast pumps and breastfeeding consultations would be provided under LB 1215, also passed Thursday on a 45-0 vote.

Among other bills:

Child labor. Criminal penalties for child labor law violations would be increased to a class I misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year imprisonment or $1,000 fine or both, under LB 906, introduced by Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston. It also would give the Nebraska Department of Labor more power to investigate potential violations. The bill was introduced after photos emerged last year of children as young as 13 illegally working at a Nebraska slaughterhouse.

Special days. Oct. 17 and May 19 would gain special recognition under LB 1102, introduced by Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. Oct. 17 will be known as Nebraska Missing Persons Day, and May 19 will be known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, Malcolm X Day.

Lottery. Nebraskans who win lottery prizes at or above $250,000 would have the option to remain anonymous under LB 1204 from Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha. The legislation was originally introduced in a separate bill from Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, but was later added to LB 1204 as a larger package that covers a range of regulations on tobacco products, public records and other issues.

Building projects. The state would appropriate $500,000 to the Department of Economic Development under LB 644, introduced by Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha. The department would have to use the funds to conduct a study to identify large commercial and industrial sites in Nebraska with the potential to attract major investments and employment opportunities.

County sheriffs. Candidates for county sheriff or people appointed as sheriffs would be required to have a law enforcement officer certificate under LB 894, passed 44-0. Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner introduced the bill after a controversy last year concerning the Dundy County sheriff, who was elected in 2022 without law enforcement certification and failed to obtain it in office. Voters recalled him by an overwhelming margin in November 2023.

Motorcycle helmets. An update to the motorcycle helmet law passed last year would expand the circumstances in which motorcyclists and passengers would be allowed to go without helmets. LB 1004, introduced by Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, would no longer require bikers to pass a special safety course if they were licensed to ride before May 1 or are from out of state. Passengers could skip the safety course and go helmetless if they are at least 21 years old and riding with someone who has qualified to go without a helmet.

State claims. Nebraska would pay $4.45 million to a Kearney couple, Miles and Christy Margritz, as part of a tort claim covered under LB 1188. An additional $3 million would go to two affiliated life insurance agencies. The claim refers to an incident in 2017 in which Miles Margritz sustained life-threatening and lasting injuries in a car crash that was the result of a police chase by the Nebraska State Patrol.

The legislation is a routine bill that appropriates funds for various claims that have been settled by the Attorney General's Office. The total price tag for the bill this year is roughly $8.4 million.