[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6371452,"mediaKeyId","2149711-824d4c8d64cfd90adecbc870dbb15942","parentId",2149711,"title","Bill would require two additional syphilis tests during pregnancy as Nebraska faces rising congenital cases","audioSeconds",2702,"startMs",3590880,"endMs",6293580,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149711-824d4c8d64cfd90adecbc870dbb15942&start=3590&end=6293","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149711-824d4c8d64cfd90adecbc870dbb15942/thumbnail_3590880.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6371452/Nebraska/Bill-would-require-two-additional-syphilis-tests-during-pregnancy-as-Nebraska-faces-rising-congenital-cases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371452-a66685678c7bc47b8857d2fc409c1f24/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151726&Signature=gnwfvQp-8lcPizoEH5jle-lTcLI0merlmvtC4u3bH30xtQYV4vWEVRAFALAZZYq-ETezYquHwPWRJja326fQzxLIoOMGuFqCMphcDHHCJaAIMdzIxGl5X-ACVh90jsaRFLURV5Q4TdUqnLwN3iAkvQSzYh7ThYUflIvp-2RqkqBnunkOGoysKnoG3uhcxKw67pwkZ84LbbxS~i3liFCS3m60CzuGQCLWx7nDXw74fq8z8CyPs0vO5bOKdHkLr-mcZaiMuPVx0w4rGU~~uGg5X8QawBA7fjNqYQ5g4vxCtCg5hruDimy8gx-OWBq2WkyB8okVjRMPGQSPaG2WFSXj7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nebraska Legislature","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Murph Rippey introduced LB 41 to require two additional syphilis blood tests for pregnant women—one in the third trimester and one at delivery—on top of the first prenatal screening already required by state law.

Supporters, including clinicians and county public-health officials, told the Health and Human Services Committee that Nebraska has experienced sharp increases in syphilis among women and in congenital syphilis. They said earlier and repeated screening during pregnancy would identify infections that occur after an early negative test and allow treatment with penicillin, which prevents transmission to the fetus.

Why it matters: Witnesses described a rise in syphilis statewide since 2017 and concentrated increases in Douglas and Lancaster counties. Dr. Anne Anderson Berry, a neonatologist, told the committee she treated only one case of congenital syphilis in the first 20 years of her practice but now sees infants needing prolonged NICU care for congenital infection. She testified that “syphilis is easily and inexpensively treated with penicillin when detected.” Public-health officials said screening three times—first prenatal visit, third trimester, and at delivery—aligns with updated 2024 CDC and ACOG guidance and reduces infant harm and high downstream costs.

Committee members asked about the statute’s language and opt-out provisions. Witnesses confirmed pregnant patients may decline testing and that the bill mirrors existing opt-out structure. Several witnesses emphasized the cost-effectiveness: Dr. Berry described the high cost of NICU care (typical NICU stays can cost tens of thousands of dollars), and other witnesses noted that preventing a small number of NICU admissions would likely offset the added testing expense.

What didn’t change today: The committee took testimony but did not record a final vote on LB 41 during the hearing.

Ending note: Proponents urged the committee to adopt LB 41 to bring Nebraska’s statutory screening rules into alignment with national guidance and to prevent avoidable congenital infections and their long-term costs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Health and Human Services Committee January 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Sen. Murph Rippey introduced LB 41 to require two additional syphilis blood tests during pregnancy—one in the third trimester and one at delivery—after witnesses said congenital syphilis rates have climbed in Nebraska.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NE, Nebraska","taxId",77675,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371457,"Neb. bill would let evidence-based nurse home visits bill Medicaid to expand postpartum care",3303,246910,3550210,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149711-824d4c8d64cfd90adecbc870dbb15942&start=246&end=3550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149711-824d4c8d64cfd90adecbc870dbb15942/thumbnail_246910.jpg","/articles/6371457/Nebraska/Neb-bill-would-let-evidence-based-nurse-home-visits-bill-Medicaid-to-expand-postpartum-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371457-33335431e779fc0175e8066c75e2d1c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151726&Signature=eeDhrHMXwr0fzFz13RwHlMZOMAWSe-FnFzZsTvneN541~6LN0Zbp~thYvPmDLvejWpJFB-rYzdCkXiXC9BSc5qCMgRPnX3wNuMIjMrEfze9OEa27ERCe9wd0kCHzhUrWxXlJb7ek31Y8N7cfUppuFXS3yKkh1RVhVogscucfMF3lFyjIv8ob9yGtjoOubDvUmFXAUN4z~7eTqlZLl7n39hOiEHmthZKWH9hcbR-7PoeqCMflwfm5ovSZfySaIxFjqIDrz~Tnbj~vXmtzMMpJlu~zbPWTMfe70amJgKHoKzzJAwig~cael9dr0gnsg40mih1APM1HWiwiXCRx0eEgeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator George Dungan introduced LB 22 to the Health and Human Services Committee to allow evidence-based nurse home visiting programs to bill Medicaid, an effort he said would expand postpartum supports now available only in parts of the state.

Supporters told the committee the Family Connects model provides 1–3 nurse home visits after discharge and produces measurable improvements in infant and maternal outcomes. Proponents urged the committee to allow targeted case management billing codes to be used for those visits so the service can grow beyond Lincoln and Omaha.

Why it matters: Committee testimony framed LB 22 as a continuation of Nebraska’s recent investments in prenatal care and as a way to secure an ongoing funding source for nurse home visiting. Proponents said federal Medicaid rules could provide a higher federal match if services are billed to the postpartum mother rather than to the child, reducing state cost. Witnesses also said pilot funding already appropriated by the Legislature will be used in Douglas County and that Lincoln Lancaster County’s Family Connects pilot has completed hundreds of visits.

Senator George Dungan, the bill’s introducer, said LB 22 “seeks to ensure there’s access to nurse home visiting postpartum care,” and highlighted the potential federal 90% match if services are billed to the mother’s postpartum eligibility. Kerry Kernen, health director for the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department, told the committee the county has completed 925 postpartum Family Connects visits since September 2023 and is scheduling roughly 40% of eligible births. Kelly Macling of the Visiting Nurse Association in Omaha said her agency plans to implement Family Connects in Douglas County in 2025 and detailed operational experience with nurse home visitation.

Questions from committee members focused on program scope, how many visits are covered, whether managed-care organizations already furnish similar services, and how billing should be structured to obtain the higher federal match. Dungan and other witnesses repeatedly noted that Family Connects typically provides 1–3 visits within weeks of discharge and that other nurse-home models can extend longer; Dungan said the bill’s initial language allowed services up to age 3 but that the Family Connects model is far shorter and could be narrowed by amendment.

Fiscal issues and pilots: Witnesses referenced last year’s legislative appropriation of $500,000 for evidence-based nurse home visiting (Sen. Wishart’s bill included in the budget) and described that money as pilot funding that the Division of Public Health will use in Douglas County. Proponents argued Medicaid reimbursement would be a sustainable funding source to expand beyond pilots; they also disputed aspects of the fiscal note, saying the state share could be lower if the services are billed through postpartum coverage that carries a higher federal match.

What didn’t change today: The committee heard no final vote on LB 22 during the hearing and took testimony only. No formal committee action was recorded in the transcript.

Ending note: Supporters asked the committee to advance LB 22 so nurse home visiting can scale to rural areas and other communities where Family Connects is not yet available, while pointing to pilot results and national evaluations that link the model to reductions in emergency department and inpatient use for infants and improved maternal mental health.","Sen. George Dungan introduced LB 22 to authorize Medicaid billing for evidence-based nurse home visiting (Family Connects) to expand postpartum supports statewide. Testimony highlighted pilot programs in Lincoln and Omaha, program outcomes, a $500,000 appropriation for pilots, federal matching rules and open fiscal questions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371442,"Proposal would shift Step Up to Quality subsidy increase to earlier level to boost provider uptake",2340,8653270,10994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149711-824d4c8d64cfd90adecbc870dbb15942&start=8653&end=10994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149711-824d4c8d64cfd90adecbc870dbb15942/thumbnail_8653270.jpg","/articles/6371442/Nebraska/Proposal-would-shift-Step-Up-to-Quality-subsidy-increase-to-earlier-level-to-boost-provider-uptake","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371442-6e92b66020f2c027a8f2d75046032669/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151726&Signature=fgkBkdlCGPX8~3bFnh-1EapqZxef1HFnZYCoT6jJJrBUgyVm9zrD595OhlTmk26Aocu--kVZ5bOFmhABos1Wh47W5V-cAizbjTBHXvDH9j1Y1nNqNGw36-~do66Mdx94W~mpS6BgD9hGv-tl17hc4QGHyVTPYfdq2LZjDKd4cnOgvfz7Lwz8oH~r0y3tP5aZGgim64T-NOaYmkRkIHrZ86klHpVpoE1n4GWNdJgjcR1Emqq4~jhsRC1iqBjo4KIl3~K26e88ziQDJEmfCdWcxDSB6V0J804XVMj0XLJbNmw2JbIj50N5gMuVlcc9cXk23CpqCGNxsZbz8p5fKFWXvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Wendy DeBoer introduced LB 71 to change when Nebraska’s tiered childcare subsidy increase applies under the Step Up to Quality program. The bill would make the 5% subsidy increase available to providers when they reach Step 2 rather than waiting until Step 3.

Supporters—including child-care operators, hospital-based programs that run childcare centers, First 5 Nebraska and the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative—testified that many providers stall at Step 2 because the financial and coaching investments required to reach Step 3 exceed available resources. They said moving the subsidy bump earlier would help providers cover upfront costs, encourage acceptance of child-care subsidy, and expand options for working families.

Why it matters: Witnesses said Step Up to Quality drives the classroom practices that reduce school-readiness gaps. Participants described bottlenecks such as limited access to coaches (including Spanish-speaking coaches), one-time improvement costs, and staff shortages. Proponents said accelerating reimbursement would act as an incentive to accept subsidy and to continue improving quality.

Fiscal context and data: Testimony cited program enrollment growth—participation has more than doubled since 2020—and said the proportion of programs reaching Step 3 has not exceeded roughly 30%. Providers and hospital-based centers described operating shortfalls and the community benefit of running childcare programs in small towns or on hospital campuses. The bill carries a fiscal note; proponents urged creative budget solutions and noted long-term savings from improved child outcomes.

What didn’t change today: The committee took testimony but did not vote on LB 71 during the hearing.

Ending note: Sponsors and early-education advocates argued LB 71 is a relatively narrow adjustment with a multiplier effect: earlier subsidy support could increase provider participation in Step Up to Quality, expand subsidy access for working families and strengthen early-childhood outcomes over time.","LB 71 would accelerate a 5% childcare subsidy increase from Step 3 to Step 2 of Nebraska’s Step Up to Quality program. Sponsors and early-childhood groups said the change better targets early investments that help providers meet higher-quality standards and encourages more programs to accept subsidy-eligible families.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371447,"Bill would let CNAs keep registry status while employed by IDD and home-care providers to ease staffing shortages",2269,6351400,8621120,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149711-824d4c8d64cfd90adecbc870dbb15942&start=6351&end=8621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149711-824d4c8d64cfd90adecbc870dbb15942/thumbnail_6351400.jpg","/articles/6371447/Nebraska/Bill-would-let-CNAs-keep-registry-status-while-employed-by-IDD-and-home-care-providers-to-ease-staffing-shortages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371447-0ff0a4d55d7cd28a08c3fa52d6148a44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151726&Signature=Gg3H8xHp~JFRdF2rwlHM19kZm52Hn0ud3lleJDqO-SdexvGCjU0MtbMzZF3BBbZdK~qOwYdrmpZJNMXQvba0svr2nFNaaUQILBruhbvvzxt95bpBXNziIFDfGSiVvanduThOiA8E3OSfJoyTQt4nZAi0RUDFzkWpgkCUoel8bNFIDgVaYhGL-gFrQVWUlVprrhkPk5OwyNO5LSBpdH9~wjNfANo7VYCDFnxXBQJtq7hXiBvu7wRP5Dq0Ty4lvKm2VyEW6suzyWgZBzCYXaKRfL69dqFl8rGrhNjTehUITgbKlmqmnBQ0P5xN553YvIhIL2k7UGkmPO2Kb-FszDkDrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Merv Riepe reintroduced LB 42 to let certified nurse aides (CNAs) retain active status on Nebraska’s nurse-aide registry while employed in intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) provider settings and certain home- and community-based services.

Supporters from IDD providers, home-care agencies and aging-services groups told the committee the current rule forces many CNAs to choose between remaining in IDD/home settings and keeping their registry active. Witnesses said providers either lose staff to skilled-nursing facilities or employees maintain a nominal shift elsewhere to preserve their registration—an inefficient workaround that undermines retention and continuity of care for clients with complex medical needs.

Why it matters: Testimony emphasized workforce shortage impacts across IDD services, home care and rural areas. Tabatha Cunningham of Hands of Heartland described about 30 of her 290 direct-support professionals as CNAs and said the change would “help us serve our clients with higher acuity needs and remove barriers to work and increase workforce opportunities.” Providers and aging-services representatives said the amendment would reduce turnover costs, preserve specialized skills and help keep clients in community-based settings.

Implementation: Witnesses said CNA duties and supervision would remain governed by existing scope-of-practice and nurse oversight. The measure was advanced previously in committee but did not become law because of a fiscal note last session; sponsors said there is no fiscal ask in the current bill.

What didn’t change today: The committee took testimony and did not record a vote. Providers asked the committee to advance LB 42 to ease staff recruitment and retention in community settings.

Ending note: Proponents urged lawmakers to remove a regulatory barrier they say forces a choice between community employment and maintaining licensure; proponents argued the bill supports Nebraska’s ability to deliver in-home and IDD services and to retain trained caregivers.","LB 42 would allow certified nurse aides to maintain active registry status while employed by intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) providers and in-home care settings, a change supporters say will reduce turnover and broaden staffing options for high-acuity clients.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would require two additional syphilis tests during pregnancy as Nebraska faces rising congenital cases

Neb. bill would let evidence-based nurse home visits bill Medicaid to expand postpartum care

Proposal would shift Step Up to Quality subsidy increase to earlier level to boost provider uptake

Bill would let CNAs keep registry status while employed by IDD and home-care providers to ease staffing shortages