Tell DHHS NO to Eliminating Medicaid Retroactive Coverage

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Email Subject:

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services,

I am opposed to the proposed Section 1115 Waiver to eliminate retroactive coverage and any other effort to limit Medicaid retroactive coverage.   
Medicaid Retroactive Coverage Protects Families from Medical Debt
Without retroactive coverage, low-income Nebraskans would be faced with medical debt, which makes it harder for families to put food on the table, afford their medication, and find affordable housing. This proposal is especially cruel in that it is eliminating this critical coverage for everyone, including NICU babies, children, those with disabilities, those who are pregnant, nursing home residents, seniors, parents, and other adults. 
Hospitals Need Retroactive Coverage
Hospitals need Medicaid retroactive coverage to make sure they can continue to provide high quality services across our state. Without it, providers would have to shoulder much more uncompensated care. Many Nebraska providers and hospitals, particularly in rural areas, are already struggling to keep offering a wide array of services and keep their doors open, and this would make the situation worse. 
I urge you to abandon the proposed Section 1115 waiver and provide the fullest amount of Medicaid retroactive coverage permitted.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City & State]

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Summary

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) <a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/NE%20Sustainable%20Coverage%20Waiver%20-%20Full%20Public%20Notice%20-%202.23.2026.pdf">announced in February</a> that it plans to seek federal approval to eliminate retroactive coverage for all Medicaid enrollees, which protects low-income Nebraskans from crippling medical debt and ensures that hospitals can keep their doors open.  Medicaid retroactive coverage covers health care bills for low-income Medicaid enrollees for a certain time prior to their month of application. This coverage is especially critical for those facing health crises. DHHS is proposing to eliminate this critical coverage for everyone, including NICU babies, children, those with disabilities, those who are pregnant, nursing home residents, seniors, parents, and other adults.  This would not only hurt our families and neighbors – it also deliver another devastating blow to our health systems in Nebraska, who are already going to see over 50,000 more uninsured patients and receive $4 billion less in federal funding due to the health care cuts passed in Congress’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” or H.R.1 last summer.  We need to support our health systems, not tear them down. Submit comments today to tell DHHS that Nebraskans say NO to eliminating retroactive coverage.  Key Points for Comments to DHHS: <ul> <li>Eliminating retroactive coverage will cause low-income Nebraskans to go into crippling medical debt. </li> <li>Eliminating retroactive coverage will strip away much needed funding from our hospitals and providers, especially in rural areas.</li> </ul> Thanks for your continued advocacy!

Who will receive your email?

Department of Health and Human Services NE

Sarah Maresh Nebraska Appleseed Health Care Access Program Director