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Hospitals, pediatric specialists urge preserving retroactive Medicaid coverage; DHHS cites budget and waiver plan
Summary
Proponents including CHI Health and Children's Nebraska told the HHS committee that limiting retroactive Medicaid coverage would shift costs to families and hospitals; DHHS finance staff defended a proposed 1115 waiver to limit retroactivity as a budget-saving measure.
Senator Makayla Cavanagh introduced LB777 to require Nebraska Medicaid to provide the maximum retroactive coverage permitted under federal law and to add specific reporting requirements to the agency’s annual Medicaid report. "LB777 simply requires our state maintain the maximum amount of retro coverage allowed under federal law," the introducer said, urging preservation of protections for Nebraskans facing medical emergencies.
Hospital and pediatric leaders testified as proponents. Chris Acker, chief medical officer for CHI Health, warned that eliminating retroactive coverage would leave eligible patients and families with large bills and create uncompensated care burdens for hospitals: "Patients don't always know when…
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