Committee hears doctors and first responders urge LB971 to guarantee inhaler access for patients and children

Senator Dunexi Guereca introduced LB971 to require coverage for maintenance and rescue inhalers used to manage asthma and COPD and to cover spacers for children under 12 when medically necessary. The bill's amendment (AM2184) would specify metered-dose inhalers and spacers for the pediatric population.

Dr. Casey Burds, division chief of pulmonology at Children's Nebraska, told the committee that inconsistent access to prescribed inhalers and spacers leads to preventable emergency visits and hospital admissions. He described a recent case in which a toddler's family delayed filling prescriptions to save $20 and the child required a three-day hospitalization with IV steroids and oxygen. "For many of my patient families, the situation results in shifting the cost from a $40 inhaler to a much more costly hospital stay," he said.

First responders and EMS advocates backed the bill as narrow and clinically focused. Michael Dwyer, a longtime EMT and EMS task-force member, argued LB971 is "well written, narrow enough to accomplish its intent" and urged the committee to advance it to the full Legislature.

Insurance representatives again opposed new mandates as a matter of principle. Jeremiah Blakey of Blue Cross and Shield of Nebraska noted that many plans already offer inhaler coverage through prescription drug benefits and argued the bill's cost-sharing limitations would not apply to high-deductible plans. Robert Bell and the Nebraska Insurance Federation echoed concerns about mandate scope and potential market distortions.

Committee members asked about price ranges; testimony placed typical insured cash costs around $40'$60 and warned of much higher retail prices without insurance. No committee action was recorded during the hearing.