“Governor Heineman’s tax proposal is skewed to benefit the wealthiest individuals in our state, at the expense of our middle class families,” said Senator Jeremy Nordquist. “This handout to the rich will undoubtedly jeopardize our ability to invest in a strong education system and a competitive workforce.”

Under Governor Heineman’s proposal:¹

• The top 5% of filers receive more from the Governor’s giveaway than the bottom 60% of Nebraskans.
• The top 1% of filers will receive an average tax giveaway that is more than 14 times the amount given to the middle 20% of taxpayers.

“The Governor’s handout to the wealthiest in our state will drive our state budget off a cliff by creating a $637 million budget shortfall in the next couple of years,” said Nordquist. “This budget reality that the Governor is refusing to address will require deep cuts to the budget, and it will likely be cut from K-12 education, higher education, and job training programs that keep our state’s workforce competitive and make Nebraska a great place to live for middle class families.”

1Open Sky Policy Institute analysis of data provided by Nebraska Department of Administrative Services Budget Division and Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy.

LB 952 Ensures Legislative Consideration of Administration’s Proposed Cuts

Lincoln – Today, Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha introduced LB 952 to stop the implementation of cuts to the Medicaid program that would significantly weaken safety net health services for Nebraska’s most vulnerable populations.

“The cuts proposed by the state’s Medicaid program reflect a significant policy change by eliminating critically important services for our most vulnerable citizens – the elderly, the disabled, and low-income children,” said Senator Nordquist. “The elimination or limitation of health care services that will impact over 170,000 Nebraskans is not a decision that should be made unilaterally by this Administration, whose record of caring for and prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable is less than satisfactory.”

As required by law, the Director of the Division of Medicaid & Long-Term Care of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services provided notification of proposed cuts to legislators in a December 1 letter. Among the proposed potential changes to the Medicaid program:

• Limiting home-based services and medical assistance that Nebraskans can receive, which services are intended to keep Medicaid recipients in their home and out of more costly institutions;
• Limiting the number of mental health and substance abuse therapy visits;
• Limiting hospital days, prescription drugs, and physician visits; and,
• The complete elimination for adults of dental services, eyeglasses, hearing aids, occupational, physical and speech therapy.

LB 952 was co-sponsored by: Senator Bill Avery, Senator Kathy Campbell, Senator Tanya Cook, Senator Brenda Council, Senator Annette Dubas, Senator Mike Gloor, Senator Gwen Howard, Senator Bob Krist, Senator Amanda McGill, and Senator Heath Mello.

LB 882 Allows Physician, Not Insurance Company, to Decide Course of Treatment

Lincoln – Today, Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha introduced LB 882 that ensures that oral chemotherapy medications are covered by health insurance in a manner similar to intravenous chemotherapy.

“LB 882 will put cancer treatment decisions back in the hands of treating physicians and their patients, rather than insurance companies,” said Nordquist.  “No person battling cancer should be forced to go against the recommendations of their doctor or forgo the most appropriate treatment because the cost-sharing provisions of their insurance favors one treatment over another.  LB 882 will allow families to focus all of their energy on recovery, not whether or not they can afford to follow the doctor’s orders.”

IV and oral cancer medications typically fall under different benefit plans. Insurance policies typically cover most, if not all, costs related to IV chemotherapy as a “medical benefit.” Oral chemotherapy is often classified as a prescription drug benefit and often requires much larger copayments. Since many oral anticancer medications can cost several thousand dollars per prescription, this increased cost sharing can potentially equate to several hundred dollars per month.

“Ultimately, LB 882 would ensure that patients battling cancer can afford the drugs that best suit their course of treatment—a decision best made by a physician and their patient, not an insurance company,” said Nordquist.

LB 882 was co-sponsored by Senator Gwen Howard and Senator Norm Wallman.

Senator Nordquist introduces Health Care Exchange legislation

Senator Nordquist has introduced LB 835 which would create a state-based health insurance exchange marketplace to give Nebraska individuals, families and small businesses more choice and competition in the health insurance market. This new marketplace would be developed – through an open and transparent process – by a board of consumers, businesses, health care providers and insurance representatives. This bill has strong bipartisan support.