Access to quality healthcare is a key element of “The Good Life” we live in Nebraska because it helps keep our state’s residents working and thriving. Many of the policy decisions made by our state’s leaders impact the health of our state’s residents, our communities and our economy.
$15 million Next week, senators in the Nebraska Legislature will consider a vote to override the Governor’s line-item veto of rate increases in FY 24-25 for hospitals and nursing homes that provide [...]
2.6% Infants are more likely to reach age 1 in states with tax policies that raise more revenue and raise it from those most able to pay, according to research published in [...]
State officials estimate that between 40,000 and 80,000 Nebraska residents who rely on Medicaid for their health care may lose that coverage as the first sweeping review of eligibility requirements in several [...]
Why people leave Nebraska and what brings new people to our state is a hot-button topic in policy debates on taxes and economic development. Join the OpenSky team for a discussion on [...]
LBs 99 and 601 would go far in helping alleviate food insecurity among Nebraska families, especially its children, OpenSky Policy Institute said at a pair of hearings this week. Universal school lunch [...]
A trio of bills before the Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday would improve access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which would have a number of positive impacts for [...]
While racial unrest persists throughout Nebraska and the nation, the COVID-19 crisis continues to disproportionately harm people of color.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) is intended to help offset the fiscal harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. State fiscal relief in the CARES Act provides funding for COVID-19-related expenses -- costs that states could not foresee until the crisis unfolded. Read more details about what is in the CARES Act for Nebraska and other states.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) not only helps more than 170,000 Nebraskans afford quality food, it also serves as an important economic stimulus tool, with studies showing that for every $1 of benefits redeemed, local economies see $1.70 in economic growth during a recession. In recognition of this, the federal government has recently given states increased flexibility in tailoring their programs to not only respond to increased need caused by the COVID-19 crisis, but also help states recover from the looming economic downturn. Nebraska has taken important steps toward maximizing this flexibility and ensuring more dollars are available to be spent at local businesses, but more could be done.