Bill > LB527

This bill adopts the Medicaid Access and Quality Act, which aims to improve healthcare access and quality in Nebraska, particularly for Medicaid recipients. The legislation establishes a new 6% tax on health maintenance organization premiums, with the collected funds to be deposited into a newly created Medicaid Access and Quality Fund. The fund will be used for three primary purposes: first, to enhance reimbursement rates for non-hospital healthcare providers, with a focus on improving access to care across various physical health services, especially in rural areas and for critical services like labor and delivery; second, to provide a monthly per-member fee to qualified primary care providers who serve as medical homes for target populations; and third, to transfer any remaining funds to the medical assistance and Children's Health Insurance Programs. The bill recognizes significant challenges in healthcare access, particularly in rural areas, and seeks to address these by investing in preventative care and improving relationships between patients and primary care providers. The legislation also includes provisions to ensure that existing Medicaid practitioner fee schedule rates are not reduced below July 1, 2024 levels and grants the Department of Health and Human Services authority to implement the act through necessary regulations.

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https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59590