***For Immediate Release***
Friday, October 25, 2019
Contact: Molly McCleery
Health Care Access Program Director
Nebraska Appleseed
Office: (402) 438-8853 Ext 113
mmccleery@neappleseed.org
Medicaid expansion proposal raises significant concerns with work requirements and benefits restrictions
Concerned Nebraskans have opportunity to provide comments at upcoming hearings
LINCOLN—Today, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services released their proposed plan for implementing Medicaid expansion, a Section 1115 waiver known as the Heritage Health Adult Program. The proposed waiver includes a two-tiered benefits system, work and wellness requirements, and changes to retroactive eligibility.
“Nebraskans are needlessly waiting for lifesaving coverage while the Department chooses to experiment with a Section 1115 waiver that is incredibly confusing and imposes additional barriers and reduced benefits. It is especially concerning that work requirements have been included in this proposal, especially when work requirements have been shown to be expensive, burdensome, and legally suspect.” said Molly McCleery, Nebraska Appleseed’s Health Care Access Program Director. “Nebraskans voted to implement Medicaid expansion with their neighbors, friends, and family in mind. It’s time to honor the vote of the people and swiftly begin the program without barriers or unnecessary experiments.”
For the next month, Nebraskans have the opportunity to raise their concerns on the proposed waiver at public hearings held across Nebraska and through written comments. The hearings are at the following times and locations:
- Tuesday, October 29 in Scottsbluff: Scottsbluff High School, Board Room (313 E. 27th St.), 7-8:30pm MT
- Wednesday, October 30 in Kearney: Kearney Public Library, South Platte Room (2020 1st Ave.), 6:45-8:15pm CT
- Thursday, November 7 in Norfolk: Norfolk Public Library, Meeting Room A (308 W Prospect Ave.) 6-7:30pm CT
- Tuesday, November 12 in Omaha: UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service, Room 132 (6320 Maverick Plaza), 7-8:30pm CT
Written comments can be submitted via email to DHHS.HHAWaiver@Nebraska.gov or by mail to Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Medicaid, ATTN: HHA Waiver, 301 Centennial Mall South, P.O. Box 95026, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5026.
Really unfair that there is not a scheduled hearing in Lincoln. not everybody who has a stake in this plan is able to travel to a hearing in a distant location.