LINCOLN — A legislative committee advanced a bill Monday that would restore government-funded prenatal care for the unborn babies of illegal immigrants and other women.
The action of the Health and Human Services Committee sets up a fight with Gov. Dave Heineman.
The governor’s spokeswoman, Jen Rae Hein, said Heineman opposes taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants.
Legislative Bill 599, introduced last year, would allow the state to provide prenatal coverage through its children’s health insurance program, commonly known as Kids Connection.
The bill would require about $1.9 million in state funds per year and an additional $4.4 million in federal funds.
In 2010, Nebraska cut off Medicaid-funded prenatal care for about 1,600 low-income women. About half were illegal immigrants.
Among others affected were women who lost benefits for failing to comply with all requirements.
State officials cited federal regulations requiring Medicaid coverage to be based on a woman’s eligibility. The state had been providing coverage based on eligibility of the unborn baby.
Although federal regulations would allow coverage for those babies under Kids Connection, efforts to provide such coverage failed in 2010. Lawmakers balked because of the potential cost of the coverage and the controversy surrounding immigration matters.
Contact the writer: 402-473-9583, martha.stoddard@owh.com
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