2020 Legislative Session Update
Posted by [email protected] on Apr. 4, 2020 / Subscribe 0
AMERICAN COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC
1141 H St Suite B, Lincoln, NE l 402/475-0727 l www.acgusa.net
April 2, 2020
TO: NE Physical Therapy Association
FROM: Julie Erickson, Richard Lombardi & Eric Gerrard, Registered Lobbyists l American Communications Group, Inc.
RE: 2020 Legislative Session Update
The Nebraska Legislature remains in recess until Speaker Scheer feels it is safe for senators and staff to reconvene. There will be 17 legislative days left when the Legislature does return and the budget bills will likely be the top priority at that time. The Governor and his office are starting to utilize the $83.6M of emergency funding that the Legislature approved last week. That funding will be going to Personal Protective Equipment, technology needs, testing, overtime costs and additional staffing that is related to the pandemic. The money is under the Governor’s control and was transferred from the cash reserve.
The Governor continues to hold news conferences every weekday at 2 p.m. with new updates related to COVID-19. You can watch those news conferences at NET Livestream Press Conferences. The Governor has announced many executive orders during these news conferences and we are watching closely for that reason. Earlier this week the Governor signed two executive orders related to healthcare workers and healthcare facilities, which relaxed regulations because of workforce needs and relaxed regulations to allow facilities to be more nimble with the number of beds, length of stay and the ability for telehealth services. All of the recent executive orders will stay in effect until 30 days after the state of emergency is lifted. Here is a link to all of the executive orders currently in effect (scroll to bottom of the page for EOs that have been signed in 2020): http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/docs/pilot/pubs/eoindex.html. Please let our office know if you want more information on any of the executive orders that have been signed to date.
Click here for the document with key provisions related to small businesses and non-profits in the CARES act that passed at the Federal level last week. We will continue to track this federal legislation and the impact to Nebraska.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has posted the 1135 Waiver to reduce the likelihood of interrupted coverage and streamline enrollment and renewal processes while also promoting flexible care like telehealth during the Covid 19 crisis. Since it was just posted we have not had the opportunity to review in detail yet. These waivers have been approved quickly for other states that have already submitted them. The department has also posted what is known as Appendix K providing for flexibility in the HCBS Waiver Program for much of the DD population. Regarding implementation of Medicaid Expansion, DHHS continues to indicate that they are still following the timeline, although we have not been able to clarify if CMS has approved the previously submitted 1115 Waiver, which would implement the program. We will keep you updated on these fronts.
Our office remains open during this time and that we are available via phone, email, zoom, etc. etc., so please do not hesitate to contact us and we will continue to communicate key issues.
Julie Erickson (402-580-2224), Richard Lombardi (402-580-2223) & Eric Gerrard (402-499-6743).
Stay safe.
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