Health and Human Services Committee
February 20, 2025
Committee Chair: Sen. Senator Brian Hardin | Bills Heard: 5 | Full Transcript (PDF)
LB554: Create Nebraska Health Professions Commission to replace 407 credentialing review process
Introduced by: Sen. Merv Riepe | Testimony: 2 proponents, 208 opponents, 0 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Sen. Riepe's health professions commission bill faces overwhelming opposition from health care providers. The proposal would replace Nebraska's 40-year-old 407 credentialing review process with a permanent commission co-chaired by UNMC and Creighton, funded at $300,000 annually. Why it matters: Rural health care access and scope-of-practice decisions affect patient care across Nebraska's medical deserts, but the bill's approach divides stakeholders sharply. What they're saying: Riepe and Dr. Ali Khan argued the current process is "tribalistic" and driven by turf wars rather than public health data. But opponents—including the Nebraska Medical Association, optometrists, nurse anesthetists, and physical therapists—warned the commission would create bureaucratic delays, physician dominance, and unelected power to initiate reviews without applications. The NMA noted 12 of 16 recent 407 reviews had favorable outcomes. By the numbers: 2 proponents testified in person; 208 opponents submitted online comments. What's next: No vote was taken. The committee heard competing proposals: LB554 (Riepe's commission) and LB436 (alternative reforms), with DHHS offering compromise language combining elements of both.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. Hardin Skeptical: Sen. Ballard, Sen. Meyer Unclear: Sen. Fredrickson
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB676: Grant certified nurse midwives full practice authority and remove location restrictions
Introduced by: Sen. Ben Hansen | Testimony: 299 proponents, 5 opponents, 2 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Sen. Hansen's bill to free certified nurse midwives from practice restrictions drew overwhelming support from mothers and providers. LB676 would grant CNMs full practice authority, remove the requirement for physician collaboration agreements, and allow them to attend home births—making Nebraska the 49th state to permit this. Why it matters: Over half of Nebraska counties lack maternity care providers; CNMs could help fill rural health care deserts, but safety concerns in areas far from hospitals complicate the issue. What they're saying: Proponents—including 299 online supporters, mothers, and CNMs—argued the current system is a "pay-to-play" scheme forcing midwives to pay distant physicians just to practice. Midwifery-led care reduces cesarean rates and improves outcomes. Dr. Todd Pankratz (NMA) acknowledged CNMs' value but warned home births in rural areas 50+ miles from hospitals pose risks without proper infrastructure and emergency response. By the numbers: 299 proponents, 5 opponents, 2 neutral online. CNMs average 279 miles from their required supervising physicians. What's next: No vote taken. Hansen agreed to work with NMA and hospital association on amendments addressing liability and collaboration safeguards, particularly for high-risk pregnancies.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. Hansen, Sen. Meyer, Sen. Hardin, Sen. Fredrickson
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB436: Modernize 407 credentialing review process by shortening timeline and improving criteria
Introduced by: Sen. Brian Hardin (HHS Committee bill) | Testimony: 46 proponents, 3 opponents, 0 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
The HHS Committee's alternative to LB554 takes a narrower approach to fixing the 407 credentialing review process. LB436 would shorten reviews from 12 to 6 months, clarify confusing evaluation criteria, and have licensing boards serve as technical reviewers for their own professions instead of ad-hoc committees. Why it matters: The 407 process determines which health professionals can expand their scope of practice; clearer criteria and faster timelines could help address rural health care shortages. What they're saying: Proponents argued that licensing board members have expertise non-experts lack, and that confusing double-negative criteria lead to re-votes and confusion. The NMA opposed, warning that having board members vote on colleagues' applications creates bias and that recent administrative improvements by DHHS should be given more time. By the numbers: 46 online proponents, 3 opponents. What's next: No vote taken. DHHS testified it has already made significant improvements and offered compromise language combining elements of both LB554 and LB436. An amendment was proposed to exempt professions regulated by boards with different composition.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. Hardin, Sen. Hansen Unclear: Sen. Fredrickson
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB569: Require Board of Emergency Medical Services to submit annual report on EMS data
Introduced by: Sen. Brian Hardin (HHS Committee bill) | Testimony: 1 proponents, 0 opponents, 1 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
The HHS Committee introduced a bill requiring annual EMS data reporting, arguing the information already exists but isn't being shared. LB569 would mandate the Board of Emergency Medical Services submit annual reports on call volume, response times, provider numbers, and patient demographics—data EMS providers have been required to submit since 2016. Why it matters: Rural EMS systems are under severe stress with volunteer shortages; data-driven decisions could help allocate resources and identify which communities are at risk. What they're saying: Micheal Dwyer, a 40-year EMS veteran, testified the data lives in Elite software but isn't being reported; the $1.3 million fiscal note appears inflated since LB1108 already funded software upgrades. Jerry Stilmock noted communities like Wahoo and McCook have lost volunteer capacity entirely. Senators agreed the fiscal note likely assumes starting from scratch. By the numbers: 1 online proponent, 0 opponents, 1 neutral. Minnesota completed a 27-page EMS workforce study for $960. What's next: No vote taken. Hardin noted this is one way to measure the medical desert and that the cost of not doing it exceeds the cost of doing it.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. Hardin, Sen. Hansen, Sen. Meyer, Sen. Riepe
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
LB570: Provide $5 million in nursing scholarships through DHHS
Introduced by: Sen. John Cavanaugh | Testimony: 16 proponents, 0 opponents, 3 neutral | Read bill text (PDF)
Sen. Cavanaugh's nursing scholarship bill drew support from educators and the Department of Health and Human Services, which suggested spending even more. LB570 would appropriate $5 million for scholarships of $2,500 per semester to nursing students, continuing a program started with ARPA funds in 2021. Why it matters: Nebraska faces a critical nursing shortage, particularly in long-term care and rural areas; scholarships could help attract students to programs that currently have capacity but lack enrollment. What they're saying: Nursing educators from Clarkson College and Nebraska Methodist College testified that private colleges graduate over 50% of Nebraska's health care degrees but were excluded from the original bill language. They asked for inclusion of traditional BSN programs. Dr. Linda Hardy (Nebraska Nurses Association) suggested clarifying that scholarships work for community colleges on quarter systems and extending eligibility to CNAs and LPNs. DHHS, testifying neutral, suggested increasing the scholarship to $5,000 and expanding to BSN programs. By the numbers: 16 online proponents, 0 opponents, 3 neutral. Clarkson graduates have 94-98% NCLEX pass rates. What's next: No vote taken. Cavanaugh indicated openness to amendments addressing scope, funding sources, and repayment obligations for graduates who don't work in nursing or leave the state.
Committee sentiment: Supportive: Sen. Cavanaugh, Sen. Riepe, Sen. Hansen, Sen. Meyer
Sentiment estimated from questions and comments — not stated positions.
Session Notes
The committee heard five bills on February 20, 2025. LB554 (Riepe's health professions commission) faced overwhelming opposition (208 online opponents vs. 2 proponents), while LB676 (Hansen's midwifery bill) drew massive support (299 online proponents vs. 5 opponents). LB436 (Hardin's 407 reform alternative) had 46 online proponents and 3 opponents. LB569 (EMS reporting) and LB570 (nursing scholarships) had minimal online opposition. No votes were taken on any bills. The hearing lasted well into the evening, with multiple bills running long due to extensive testimony. Committee members expressed concerns about rural health care access, medical deserts, and the need for data-driven decision-making across multiple health care workforce issues.
Generated by NE Wire Service | Source: Nebraska Legislature Transcribers Office This is an AI-generated summary. Verify all claims against the official transcript.