NMA MEMBERSHIP. REAL IMPACT.

Why membership matters: When physicians come together through the Nebraska Medical Association, it creates a unified voice that shapes policy decisions affecting patient care and the practice of medicine. These recent outcomes reflect what our collective advocacy makes possible—and what is at stake without it.

NMA LEGISLATIVE WINS
Increasing Medicaid Reimbursement and Access to Care NMA’s LB527 (2025) created $130 million in dedicated funding for broad-based 20-35%+ increases to Medicaid reimbursement for physicians, the most significant investment in Medicaid physician reimbursement in decades, with an extra focus on maternal, primary, and rural care.
Preserving Nebraska’s Liability Cap NMA has stopped multiple recent efforts to topple Nebraska’s liability cap, including LB351 (2023), LB160 (2021), and LB1133 (2020). NMA’s efforts have preserved Nebraska’s $2.25 million liability cap, preventing proposals that would have eliminated the cap and required physicians to carry $20 million in coverage. These successes avoided unsustainable cost increases and instability that could have limited physician availability and patient access to care.
Reforming Prior Authorization NMA’s LB77 (2025) addressed major prior authorization challenges, requiring adverse determinations to be made by a physician, opportunity for peer-to-peer, appeals to be reviewed by a physician of the same or similar specialty, and minimum response times for urgent and non-urgent requests. By streamlining the process and reducing unnecessary delays, the law reduces administrative burden on practices and helps patients get the care they need.
Protecting Newborn Screening Through sustained opposition, NMA stopped LB1060 (2024) and LB310 (2025), proposals that would have weakened Nebraska’s newborn screening program. The program identifies serious conditions that may not be visible at birth but can have significant long-term consequences without early intervention. Saving the newborn screening program means better outcomes for infants across the state.
Preventing Unsafe Scope Expansion Each year, scope of practice proposals are introduced that would expand non-physician authority to perform increasingly complex procedures without aligned training. NMA’s work in this arena is critical to patient safety. Recent examples include NMA’s successful defeat of LB216 (2023), which would’ve authorized optometrists to perform laser procedures despite minimal surgical training and inexperience managing complications, and NMA’s defeat of LB392 (2021) which would’ve authorized psychologists to prescribe powerful psychotropic medications.
Sustaining the Excess Liability Fund NMA’s LB68 (2023) increased revenue to the Excess Liability Fund, which had decreased by more than $8.5 million. NMA’s work stabilized the Fund by increasing revenue and decreasing risk, ensuring the Fund is viable and available to support physicians for decades to come. This stability keeps liability coverage affordable and reinforces Nebraska as a strong environment for physician practice.
Upholding Safe Standards for Maternal Care NMA led opposition to LB374 (2025), LB676 (2025), and LB1234 (2026), all of which would have authorized direct-entry Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), despite their lack of medical training, and allowed an unrestricted scope of practice, including home births. Without NMA’s advocacy, there would have been no coordinated effort to stop this grave risk to Nebraska mothers and infants.
Establishing Confidential Access to Physician Wellness NMA’s LB286 (2023) allows physicians to use the LifeBridge Nebraska coaching services without fear of stigma or other repercussions by providing that participation in the program is confidential and not subject to discovery, subpoena, or any reporting requirement. These safeguards remove a key barrier to care and make it possible for physicians to seek support without fear of professional consequences.
Securing Reimbursement for Translation NMA’s work on LB62 (2023) secured Medicaid coverage and reimbursement to providers for all necessary translation and interpretation services. The law allows physicians to claim reimbursement for the translation and interpretation services they arrange directly for patients, improving efficiency and reducing barriers to care for patients with limited language or hearing proficiency.
Expanding Access to Cancer Screening and Treatment NMA has played a critical role in expanding access to cancer screening and treatment by closing coverage gaps that can delay or disrupt care. Recent successes include LB829 (2024), which ensures patients can receive complete colorectal cancer screenings, including polyp removal and biopsy, without additional cost-sharing or administrative delays, and LB885 (2024), which expands access to lung cancer screening by requiring coverage, without cost-sharing, for eligible high-risk patients.
Extending Postpartum Medicaid NMA’s support of LB419 (2023) helped extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months, closing a significant gap in care during a high-risk period for the 35% of Nebraska births covered by Medicaid.
Securing Loan Repayment Funding NMA’s advocacy and stewardship of the Rural Health Professional Incentive Program has been critical to ensuring the program is sustainable and can continue to incentivize rural health practitioners and expand access to care. These successes included a $1.5 million increase under LB778 (2020) and the addition of $5 million in APRA funds under LB1007 (2022). This allowed all providers on an existing waiting list to be funded and doubled the number of current participants.