Dear Neighbors,

Last week the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee received a briefing by the Nebraska Department of Insurance. The topic was the mandated health care exchanges created in the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Although the federal health care act provides the basic framework for creating the exchanges, significant issues are being resolved through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who are still developing the rules and regulations.

At a minimum, each exchange must implement procedures to certify health plans, assign a rating to each plan and standardize the format for presenting options, inform individuals of eligibility for Medicaid and determine eligibility for federal insurance premium subsidy programs.

They must be deemed a “Qualified Health Plan” and provide “minimum essential benefits.” Unfortunately we have not yet learned what “minimum essential benefits” means.

With all this uncertainty, the deadlines have not changed. Each state’s health care exchange must be certified by the Secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services by January 1, 2013, be operational by January 1, 2014 and self-sustaining by 2015.

This means any changes need to current Nebraska state statutes must happen this next session. Nebraska must build a plan without a foundation in place.

With each new briefing it becomes clearer just how much of a massive undertaking creating a health care exchange will be, not only for Nebraska, but all states.

I encourage you to learn more about the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and tell us, who represent you, your questions and concerns. I know Congressman Lee Terry, Senator Ben Nelson and Senator Mike Johanns value your input, as I do.

Dear Neighbors,

One of the more common questions my staff and I receive is “Do you work when the legislature is not in session?” Yes, we do!

Interim, the time between legislative sessions, is filled with assisting constituents and researching issues facing our state to prepare for the next session.

One concern is the abuse of “bath salts.” Like K2, it is a designer drug sold at head shops, convenience stores and on the internet. It has many names, including Ivory Wave, Mr. Nice Guy and Mystic. The powder can be white to light brown in color and contains Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV.) To achieve a high, the powder is snorted, smoked or injected.

MDPV is a psychoactive drug, producing effects similar to cocaine and amphetamines. A few of the possible symptoms include rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, severe paranoia and extreme anxiety and agitation.

Senator Ken Schilz from Ogallala is currently working with the Attorney General’s office on legislation to ban “bath salts” in Nebraska.

As Vice-Chairperson of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee, I, along with my fellow committee members, continue to learn what impact the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will have on Nebraska.

One of the many uncertainties facing states involves the health care exchanges.

Each state’s health exchange plan must be certified by the Secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services by January 1, 2013, be operational by January 1, 2014 and self-sustaining by 2015.

Nebraska has many questions surrounding the health exchanges that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been able to answer. This means as a state, we must build a plan without a foundation.

We have a significant challenge before us, but I am committed to putting in the necessary time and effort to find the best policy options for our state and our citizens.

I have only mentioned two of the many issues facing our state and welcome your questions, concerns or suggestions. I want to hear from you, the constituents of Legislative District 39. Please do not hesitate to contact me at my office at the State Capitol. My office number is 402-471-2885 or you can email me personally at bmccoy@leg.ne.gov.

“The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen”.