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Approximately one child in 36 in the United States has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, with one in six children having at least one developmental or intellectual disorder. (Photographee.eu/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

NE rolls out new disability support for 850 families

As the country observes Autism Acceptance Month, Nebraska families raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder are among those learning they will …

As of 2023, 29 of Nebraska's 93 counties had no behavioral health professionals. (Adobe Stock)

NE behavioral health advocates, consumers question $15 million funding shift

A 2023 study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center concluded the number of Nebraskans with a mental health or substance abuse disorder has pr…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in every 300 newborns screened is eventually diagnosed with one of the conditions covered in newborn screenings. (Tomsickova/Adobe Stock)

Bill in NE would allow parents to 'opt out' of newborn screenings

Every state has been screening newborns for several decades, usually performing a heel-prick blood test, a hearing test and a heart check. Several …

There are about 48 million unpaid family caregivers in the U.S., providing care with a dollar value of nearly $600 billion. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

NE lawmakers consider tax credits for family caregivers

About 180,000 Nebraskans are caregivers for a family member. Nationally, family caregivers spend an average of more than $7000 a year on related …

States can set more restrictive qualifications for child care subsidies than the federal government. In 2019, nearly 89,000 Nebraska children qualified using federal parameters, but fewer than 36,000 qualified using Nebraska's state-defined rules. (Lordn/Adobe Stock)

Kentucky-inspired bill would help NE child care providers, workforce

In the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll 61% agreed there's a shortage of affordable child care in their communities, and more than 75% said their communities …

In 2024, Nebraska is spending less than 25% of what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers best practices on tobacco control programs, according to an American Lung Association report. (Zhikun Sun/Adobe Stock)

Report: NE receives failing grades for three of five tobacco-control measures

Nebraska needs to do better when it comes to tobacco use prevention and cessation, according to a newly released report. In the American Lung …

One goal of President Joe Biden's April 2023

Medicaid waiver programs cover in-home care costs for eligible Nebraskans

Many Nebraskans age 65 and older with health limitations, as well as younger people living with a disability, want to remain in their own homes…

In 2023, Nebraska ranked 37th for the percentage of adults experiencing any form of mental illness, at 23.4%, compared with the national average of 20.78%. (Nuttapong punna/Adobe Stock)

2024 means more mental-health care options for NE Medicare recipients

Nebraska was ranked forty-fourth overall in the 2023 Mental Health in America report, and twenty-ninth for access to care. But a change as of January …

In 2021, 37% of people in the U.S. ages 18 and older used telehealth services at least once. (DC Studio/Adobe Stock)

'Champion' NE state senators helped lower insulin costs, strengthen telehealth

As of Jan. 1, insulin will become a lot more affordable for many Nebraskans, and those who have come to rely on telehealth visits are more likely to …

According to the American Lung Association, around 238,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed this year, and more than 127,000 people will die from lung cancer. (Peakstock/Adobe Stock)

Report: NE lung cancer screening of high-risk individuals among lowest in U.S.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and a newly released report shows far too few Nebraskans at high risk for lung cancer are getting the …

In a 2022 poll by the Pew Research Center, 30% of adults said marijuana should be legal for medical use and 59% supported it being legalized for medical and recreational use. Ten percent did not support legalization for either medical or recreational use. (bukhta79/Adobe Stock)

Advocates hope voters make Nebraska 48th state to approve medical cannabis

When it comes to getting the legalization of medical cannabis in front of Nebraska voters, supporters hope the third time's the charm. Nebraska…

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2020, 4.2 million people used Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS) delivered in home and community settings, and 1.6 million used LTSS delivered in institutional settings. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

NE long-term care, caregiver support services rank 18th nationwide

The latest State Scorecard Report from AARP shows Nebraska's long-term care facilities have made some improvements in the last three years. For …

With the help of more than 550 partner agencies, including schools, churches, shelters and food pantries, Food Bank for the Heartland distributed more than 22 million meals in its 2023 fiscal year. They expect the number to climb to 26.5 million in FY 2024. (TSViPhoto/Adobe Stock)

Hunger Action Month finds NE food bank in "crisis mode"

It is Hunger Action Month, and a Nebraska organization fighting hunger said action is badly needed, at both the national and state levels. In a June …

Dr. Ruth Petersen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, says breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Month: Advocates Say Practice Needs 'Normalizing'

August is National Breastfeeding Month, focused on the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies as well as the restrictions some encounter…

Three positive trends for seniors nationwide in UnitedHealthcare's 2023 Senior Report were a 6% decrease in the number experiencing food insecurity, a 7% increase in those with access to high-speed internet, and a 16% increase in the number of geriatric providers. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

NE Receives Mixed Reviews on Well Being of State's Seniors

Nebraska received mixed reviews regarding the well-being of the state's seniors in United Healthcare's 2023 Health Rankings Senior Report. The state …

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 77% of workers in private industry received paid sick leave in 2022. However, among the the lowest 10% of earners, only 38% earned paid sick leave compared with 96% of those in the highest 10%. (Valerii Apetroaiei/Adobe Stock)

Lack of Paid Sick Leave Disproportionately Affects NE Women

This year, 14 states and even more cities required employers to provide some form of paid sick leave. Supporters of the Paid Sick Leave for …

The percentage of Nebraska children living in single-parent households has fluctuated between 28% and 30% since 2011. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

Despite #1 Rank for 'Economic Well-Being,' NE Parents Struggle

Nebraska children rank first in the nation for economic well-being in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2023 Kids Count Data Book, and eighth for …

Nebraska was one of 10 states to further restrict abortion access in the 2023 legislative session. At least 48 bills were passed involving restrictions for LGBTQ+ individuals. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

Plaintiffs Speak Out in Suit Against Controversial New NE Law

A new Nebraska law is now the subject of a lawsuit filed in the District Court of Lancaster County. In its amended form, Legislative Bill 574 …

An aerial view of Roca, Neb. Some 37% percent of Nebraska's rural hospitals have lost some services, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. (Jacob/Adobe Stock)

Rural Nebraska Faces Outsized Impact of Governor's Budget Vetoes

Rural Nebraska could lose on two fronts if two of Gov. Jim Pillen's budget vetoes are allowed to stand. Pillen struck down a second year of …

Nationwide, 543 anti-trans bills have been introduced since the start of the 2023 legislative session. So far, 70 have passed. (James Reininger/Adobe Stock)

NE Legislature Faces One Bill Restricting Two Personal Health Care Decisions

This week the Nebraska Legislature will consider a bill containing the two most controversial issues of the 2023 session: restrictions on medical trea…

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities said the

Medicaid 'Unwinding' Underway; DHHS Needs Up-to-Date Contact Info

Tens of thousands of Nebraskans receiving Medicaid benefits may lose them over the upcoming year. With the COVID-19 public health emergency ending…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 91,000 police reports of accidents in 2017 involved

Too Little Sleep Contributes to Chronic Health Conditions, Accidents

Feeling drowsy during the day isn't the only problem associated with getting too little sleep, which is the case for nearly one-third of U.S. adults…

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, more than 50 countries have

Faith Leaders On Nebraska's LB 626, Religious Freedom and Maternal Care

Identifying as a person of faith is not synonymous with supporting Legislative Bill 626, the six-week abortion ban bill in the Nebraska legislature…

A 2022 abortion bill failed to pass in the Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Bill 933 included criminal penalties for doctors who performed abortions, and the only exception was to save the life of the mother. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Nearly 60% of Nebraskans Oppose Abortion Bill in Legislature

Nebraska would have one of the strictest abortion laws in the country should Legislative Bill 626 become law. It recently passed out of committee…

The ACLU is currently tracking 321 anti-LGBTQIA legislative bills across the country. It includes four advancing in the Nebraska Legislature, which the ACLU puts in the categories of free speech and expression, health care, schools and education, and civil rights. (Adobe Stock)

For LGBTQIA Youth, Support Can Be 'Literally Life-Saving'

Teen suicide is the second-leading cause of death in the 15-24 age group in this country, and young people who identify as LGBTQIA are at greater …

According to the Sierra Club of North Carolina, crypto mines generate around 34,000 tons of electronic waste worldwide per year. Much of it, replete with toxic heavy metals, ends up in landfills and is a threat to both water and air. (Adobe Stock)

Small NC Town has Advice for Nebraskans on Crypto Mines

As more Nebraska towns approve permits for "crypto mines," the high-speed computer facilities processing cryptocurrency algorithms, people in the …

One study estimates tens of billions of dollars a year could be saved if 30% to 40% of specialist visits were conducted via telehealth. (Adobe Stock)

Telehealth Serves Rural Nebraskans in Multiple Ways

Telehealth delivery of medical care has grown considerably since the start of the pandemic, and although its use has leveled off, Nebraskans are …

According to the American Council on Aging, the average

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More NE Long-Term Care Facilities Risk Closure Without Funding

Nebraska's long-term care facilities face staffing shortages and other factors that could lead to more closures if state funding isn't increased…

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, more people might renew ACA coverage in 2023 than ever before. (Adobe Stock)

Still Time for New ACA Enrollment or Plan Changes

Open enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act ends on Jan. 15 at midnight ET. The federal government reports nearly 16 …

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 9,560 traffic fatalities nationwide in first quarter of 2022 was the highest number of first-quarter fatalities since 2002. (Adobe Stock)

Small Changes by NE Drivers Can Make Roads Safer in 2023

Traffic fatalities nationwide hit a 20-year high in 2022 - and they were up in Nebraska as well. Preliminary figures show fatal crashes up 15% …

Among adolescents who currently use any tobacco product, the proportion whose first tobacco product was e-cigarettes increased from 27.2% in 2014 to 78.3% in 2019 and remained at 77.0% in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Settlement Money to Help NE Fight Epidemic of Teen E-cig Use

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said more than $8 million will be the state's share of a multistate lawsuit against e-cigarette maker Juul Lab…

The CDC reports more than 19,000 people nationwide were hospitalized for flu in the week ending November 26. (Adobe Stock)

Flu Hits NE Early; Highest Rates among Kids, Young Adults

Nebraska is one of a dozen states experiencing "very high" levels of influenza, and the highest percentage of cases has been in children and young …

Western Nebraska is home to food deserts, where there is no easy way to get good, healthy food regularly, which disproportionately impact seniors in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Reimagining Ways to Get Struggling Nebraska Families Back on Track

With a new legislative session on the horizon and new legislators after the November elections, the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska is bringing …

A poll conducted in March found that 55% of Nebraskans oppose banning abortions, compared with 40% who support a ban. (Adobe Stock)

Five of Six Nebraska Municipalities Vote in Favor of Banning Abortion

Voters in five Nebraska towns approved local ordinances banning abortion care in this week's midterm elections, but reproductive health care …

Nebraska is home to many industrial-scale operations, where livestock live in densely populated, confined quarters. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Nebraskans Urge Better State Management of Factory Farm Animal Waste

Clean-water advocates are urging the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy to do more to protect drinking water and soil quality impacted by i…

Medicare provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act are projected to reduce the federal deficit by $237 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Biden’s Medicare Move Projected to Lower Drug Prices, Federal Deficit

Over the next 10 years, some 64 million people on Medicare, and American taxpayers, will save $100 billion, thanks to provisions in President Joe …

Children of color are more likely than white kids to experience the death of a parent, as are children living in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Conference on Grieving in Lincoln to Focus on Supporting Kids

Nebraska is one of six states participating in "No Child Grieves Alone," a series of regional conferences aiming to help communities recover after the…

Nationally, the residential long-term care industry has lost 235,000 workers since the onset of the global pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Nursing Home Staffing Shortage Creating Backlogs for Hospitals

A new Economic Policy Institute report links staffing shortages in residential long-term care facilities in Nebraska and across the nation to low pay …

A nivel nacional, la industria residencial de atenci�n a largo plazo ha perdido 235, 000 trabajadores desde el inicio de la pandemia. (Adobe Stock)

Escasez de personal en hogares para ancianos crea retrasos en hospitales

Un nuevo informe del Instituto de Política Económica vincula la escasez de personal en los centros residenciales de atención a largo pl…

Las Escuelas P�blicas de Omaha informaron que poder ofrecer comidas a todos los estudiantes sin cargo redujo el hambre infantil, apoy� el rendimiento acad�mico, elimin� el estigma asociado con las comidas escolares y mejor� el comportamiento de los estudiantes. (Adobe Stock)

Se acaba el tiempo para extender exenciones de comidas escolares

Las exenciones de comidas escolares que permitieron a los distritos ser más flexibles en la entrega de alimentos a los niños durante la pand…

Omaha Public Schools reported that being able to offer meals to all students at no charge reduced childhood hunger, supported academic achievement, eliminated stigma associated with school meals and improved student behavior. (Adobe Stock)

Time Running Out to Extend School Meal Waivers

School meal waivers that allowed districts to be more flexible getting food to kids during the pandemic are set to expire at the end of June…

Loss of rural populations to urban centers has caused many hospitals in Nebraska to reconfigure their budgets. (Adobe Stock)

Keys to Keeping Nebraska's Rural Hospital Doors Open

Without federal intervention, a new report warns, rural hospitals across the United States, including many in Nebraska, could be forced to reduce …

Of 62 large districts surveyed, 98% identified challenges with supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages, and said providing school meals would be even greater if not for USDA child-nutrition waivers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: School Meal Waivers a Game Changer During Pandemic

During the COVID health emergency, Congress removed a lot of red tape in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) school meals programs, and a new …

So far, a ballot signature campaign led by Christa Eggers to legalize medical cannabis has reached Nebraska's 5%-of-voters threshold in four of the required 38 counties. (Rebecca Gratz)

Ballot Initiative Requirements Challenged as Unconstitutional

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging Nebraska's requirements for voter-led initiatives …

LB 933 would make it a felony to provide medicine or procedures that end pregnancies, even in cases of rape and incest. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Lawmakers Advance Abortion Ban Opposed by Majority of Voters

Nebraska is on track to ban all abortions in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its landmark Roe v. Wade decision. On Friday, lawmakers …

Eight in 10 Nebraska voters support increasing funding for the respite care program which provides short-term help from a home health aide or adult day-care program so family caregivers can take a break. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Nebraska Lawmakers Urged to Support Family Caregivers

The strain of unpaid family care-giving is pressing down hard on many Nebraska residents, according to new AARP research. Nearly half of people …

Nebraska's current nurse shortage is expected to grow to 5,000 by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Tap American Rescue Plan Dollars for Nursing Scholarships

Nebraska lawmakers are set to hear a measure Friday which would tap unspent federal COVID relief dollars to help address what some are calling a healt…

A majority of Nebraskans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research. (Adobe Stock)

Anti-Abortion, Pro-Choice Measures at Odds in Nebraska Legislature

As Nebraska's GOP leaders work to further restrict and even ban access to abortion services, Sen. Megan Hunt, D-Omaha, has introduced two bills …

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