Debate resumes this morning in the Nebraska Legislature on a bill from the Health and Human Services Committee combining 16 measures to help nursing home patients and hospitals.
Committee Chairman Ben Hansen says the bills are noncontroversial and would normally be advanced individually without debate on the consent calendar, but were merged because of the ongoing filibuster on all measures by opponents of the bill banning gender-affirming treatments for minors.
The combined bill ran into the filibuster Friday and Speaker John Arch says it will be another 2-½ hours of debate before senators can vote on cloture, end the filibuster, and take a first-round vote on the bill.
Provisions in the merged bill include reimbursing hospitals for patients who can’t be discharged to nursing homes and a $15 increase to $75 a month in the amount of Medicaid reimbursement patients in nursing homes can keep for personal expenses.
With less than 30 days left in this year’s session, Speaker Arch says he’s expecting late nights today, tomorrow, and Wednesday as senators continue to work on advancing legislation despite the filibuster.
It is certainly needed