Last month, the Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee released its Legislative Resolution 37 report and 18 recommendations that we believe chart a positive new path forward for child welfare reform. In response to the report, a Dec. 18 World-Herald editorial, “State must get this right,” rightly noted that needed fixes to the state’s […]
Gains Seen on Child Welfare Reform Read More »
Yesterday, the HHS Committee of the Legislature released its report as part of LR 37, an interim study investigation of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) child welfare reform and privatization. Among the 18 recommendations were the following: Return case management to the state by July 1, 2012 Create the Nebraska Department
Legislature’s HHS Committee Releases LR 37 Report and Recommendations on Child Welfare Read More »
“Waiting for Midnight” has nothing to do with Cinderella. Instead, NBC’s Rock Center recently drew attention to a different kind of “mad dash.” Hungry families across America are waiting for midnight at the first of the month when funds under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) become available. With our
Waiting for Midnight Read More »
Yesterday, the message from consumer advocates, providers, and insurance carriers/producers was clear: we should move forward next legislative session and consider legislation to create a state-based exchange. Several groups, including Nebraska Appleseed, testified in front of the Nebraska Legislature’s Banking, Commerce, and Insurance Committee, along with some members of the Health and Human Services Committee,
Hearing on Health Insurance Exchanges Show Need to Push Forward Read More »
As the New York Times reported on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will decide the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in this current term, with a decision probably due by June 2012. The central issue that will be decided by the Court is whether Congress had the authority to create
Supreme Court Takes up Challenge to Health Reform Law Read More »
On Thursday, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is the comprehensive health reform law signed into law by President Obama in March 2010. The 2-1 Court of Appeals decision joins dozens of other lawsuits challenging the ACA that have been
Health Reform Victory Reinforces Need to Continue Implementation Read More »
Written for and originally Posted at Forbes A common criticism of the U.S. immigration system is it tilts toward family admissions. This criticism rests, in part, on the mistaken notion that any close relations sponsored by U.S. citizens come to America quickly as permanent residents. However the wait times for sponsoring a close family member
The Myth of Chain Migration Read More »
I spent a very enjoyable summer working as a law clerk for Nebraska Appleseed. I have always admired the values this organization holds, yet never completely understood the work they do until I was given the opportunity to be a part of it. I spent the summer working primarily on health care access issues; an
A Law Clerk’s View: Bringing Health Care Reform Home Read More »
My time at Nebraska Appleseed has been one of growth. I have taken the skills I learned during my first year of law school and applied them to help address gaps in services for children in the state. I was able to do something that matters and learn about how the law works in the
A Law Clerk’s View: Addressing Gaps in Services for Children Read More »
On Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court issued a decision that strengthens the authority of juvenile courts in Nebraska to hold HHS in contempt when the Department willfully fails to comply with orders designed to serve the best interests of children. The case involved an order by the Cheyenne County Court, sitting as a juvenile court,