Medicaid expansion considered for Nebraska

Posted by: Laura Wilson
lwilson@klkntv.com
 

LINCOLN–We heard it a number of times during Wednesday’s Health and Human Services Committee public hearing.

"I am one of the 77,000 people without health insurance,” said Sarah Parker, as she addressed committee members.

Roughly 30 people spoke in favor of a proposed bill to expand Medicaid coverage in Nebraska.

If the bill is passed, it will use Medicaid funds to buy private insurance for the 77,000 Nebraskans who find themselves in what many refer to as the "insurance gap."

"When I tried to get health insurance, I realized that my hard work meant I had fallen through the cracks.  I make too much money to qualify for Medicaid.  But at the same time, I don’t make enough to get subsidies in the Marketplace to get affordable health insurance.  They insurance my employer offers also is not affordable in my budget,” explained Jessica Metzler, who is also uninsured.

The Transitional Health Insurance Plan, introduced by Senator John McCollister, is based on a similar Medicaid expansion bill–passed in Arkansas in 2014.

But there’s debate over whether that legislation was a success.

"That’s led to hospitals experiencing a 55% decrease in their uncompensated care losses.  That’s about a 150–million dollar impact to the hospitals,” said Health consultant Patricia Boozang.

Arkansas State Senator Bryan King sees things differently.

"We’re not seeing the economic benefit that was promised,” he said.

“If you look at the population, almost 40% earn zero–dollar income.  It’s been extremely detrimental to the economy in a lot of areas, because it de–incentivizes people to work,” King added.

The committee will go into a closed, executive session Thursday to decide whether or not to pass the bill on to the legislative floor for debate.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services estimates the Medicaid expansion would cost nearly 1–billion dollars through 2027.