Over the past several months, I have spent a lot of time discussing some of the “hot button” issues facing Nebraska. Those issues matter, but other issues that may not generate the same headlines or social media attention and are every bit as important, if not more so, to the Nebraskans directly affected by them.

This past week, I participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by Senator Victor Rountree on Nebraska’s developmental disability system. The discussion included families, service providers, industry professionals, advocates, and several individuals from District 42. It was an important opportunity to hear directly from those who rely on these services and those who provide them.

For those of us who do not have a child or family member with a developmental disability, it can be easy for this issue to be “out of sight, out of mind.” Behind every discussion about waiver services, assessments, provider rates, and funding are real people and loving families who depend on these services every day. Hearing directly from them reminded me of our responsibility to ensure the system works as intended.

President George W. Bush famously described his philosophy as “compassionate conservatism.” I like to think I fall into that category. Being fiscally conservative should not mean turning our backs on people who genuinely need help. At the same time, we can be compassionate while also ensuring programs are effective, sustainable, and responsible to the taxpayers who fund them. I believe we can and should do both.

A significant part of the discussion focused on changes to the way the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) assesses the needs of individuals receiving developmental disability services. Families and providers have raised concerns that the current assessment process does not always fully capture an individual’s needs and can result in reductions in services.

Senator Machaela Cavanaugh introduced legislation during the last session to address some of these concerns. I supported the legislation, which ultimately passed the Legislature and added safeguards to the assessment process. Importantly, those provisions did not require a new state appropriation. That is a good example of how we can sometimes improve a system without spending more money.

I expect developmental disability services will again be an issue before the Legislature next year. I am hopeful that the conversations taking place during the interim will allow Senators, families, providers, DHHS, and other stakeholders to identify reasonable changes that can gain broad bipartisan support.

In making improvements we cannot afford, quite literally, to ignore the state’s financial position. If additional investments in developmental disability services are necessary, we also need to determine how we will pay for them. That does not mean we should refuse to make needed investments. It means we need to make certain they are targeted, effective, and sustainable. We should look for efficiencies, opportunities to redirect existing dollars or draw down federal dollars, and other responsible ways to meet these needs. Being a good steward of taxpayer dollars and providing appropriate services to some of our most vulnerable citizens are not mutually exclusive goals. I believe we have a responsibility to do both.

I appreciate Senator Rountree for bringing everyone together and, most importantly, the families and providers who shared their experiences. These are exactly the conversations we should be having during the interim so we can be prepared to find workable solutions.

It is a privilege to represent you in the Nebraska Legislature, and I look forward to hearing from you regarding issues that are important to you. I can be reached at 402-471-2729 or by emailing me at mike.jacobson@leg.ne.gov.