Nebraska
Nebraska lawmakers hear testimony on several prescription drug bills
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), were created decades ago to process claims for insurance companies and save money for consumers.
At a hearing Tuesday, some told the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee that things have changed though.
“Now, PBMs collect rebates from drug manufacturers on top of premiums,” Nebraska Pharmacists Association CEO Marcia Mueting said. “They conduct predatory audits that have become a profit center, they reimburse pharmacies at below-cost rates and offer contracts to pharmacies that are not negotiable, and PBMs are posting record earnings.”
State Sen. Justin Wayne has one bill that would keep PBMs from reimbursing pharmacies at a lower rate for drugs than it costs to dispense them.
Those testifying in favor of it said smaller, independent pharmacies cannot stay afloat with those conditions.
“Even with processing over 12,000-13,000 prescriptions a year, the current losses are unsustainable,” said Tom Choquette, who owns Bert’s Pharmacy in Hastings. “One of the three Nebraska Medicaid Providers, we’ve processed 2,285 claims this year, totaling a loss of $3,084.”
Opponents of the legislation said there are too many other factors at play to just zero in on PBMs.
“Let’s look at what the role the wholesaler and PSAO is in all these transactions because I want to understand more what limits there may be on pharmacies in terms of shopping around,” Pharmaceutical Care Management Association Vice President Bill Head said.
Sen. Eliot Bostar’s proposal would not allow PBMs to restrict how retail pharmacies dispense or deliver prescription drugs to patients.
The Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network in Nebraska welcomed the bill.
“Our sustainability has been compromised by PBM practices that steer our patients away from our care and into big box stores and mail-order services that are often, more often, owned by those same out-of-state PBM companies,” Staci Hubert said.
However, a lobbyist representing Prime Therapeutics said mail-order pharmacies have credentialing requirements for quality and safety measures.
“Community pharmacies should also be following those same requirements if they’re going to be doing mail order, and this bill prevents us from having specific networks that we would require them to join to do mail-order pharmacies,” Michelle Crimmins said.
Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue has a bill that would establish an advisory council consisting of those representing pharmacists, consumers and drug manufacturers. It would negotiate lower prices on medications that are utilized the most in the state and are also considered to be the most expensive.
“I don’t fault any company if they make profits,” Blood said. “But in the United States, we’re making these profits on the backs of consumers.”
Critics said the upper payment limit in Blood’s bill is a price control that would impact purchase and reimbursement prices for medicine.
“It is really not clear how an upper payment limit would operate,” said Katelin Lucariello, a lobbyist for the trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. “It’s still an open question, as no state has done it yet.”
All bills must make it out of committee before being debated on the floor.
Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – In the two weeks since arriving on campus, Dana Holgorsen has spent most of his waking hours in the Huskers facility and film room.
In addition to prepping for Wisconsin, Nebraska’s new offensive coordinator said he is still learning the offense and players’ names. As for why he would want to take on such a gargantuan task midseason?
“I was bored,” he said with a laugh in his first time speaking to reporters. “I was slated to go back to Fort Worth on Sunday night and [Matt] Rhule called and said I need your help.”
While Holgorsen’s appointment officially runs through the end of the regular season, Rhule has stated he hopes the former Houston and West Virginia head coach stays in Lincoln. For now, Holgorsen is just focused on getting up to speed.
“I don’t know what December is going to look like, I don’t know what January is going to look like. I don’t care,” he said. “100 percent of my focus is trying to get our offense better to where we can win against Wisconsin Saturday.”
Holgorsen didn’t need to be here long to know the perimeter blocking needs work.
“There’s some good sized kids out there,” he said, identifying Janiran Bonner, Isaiah Neyor, Jahmal Banks and Carter Nelson by numbers only. “These guys are big bodies. I’m like ‘Why are you not blocking worth a crap on the perimeter?’ It’s embarrassing. First thing I said to them is that if you don’t start blocking out there, you’re not going to get the ball thrown to you. This past week was our best perimeter blocking of the season.”
Wisconsin has won 10 straight meetings with Nebraska, including four straight in Lincoln. An end to those streaks would finally give Nebraska win No. 6 and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016.
“It’s shocking to me that it’s been that long that a program like this hasn’t been to a bowl game,” he said. “Doesn’t make any sense to me. But it is where we’re at. We tried everything we could to win that game last week, and we had a chance still. We’ll do everything we can this week and we’ll have a chance to.”
After Wisconsin fired OC Phil Longo over the weekend, Holgorsen will now be the veteran offensive coordinator Saturday against the Badgers.
Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Dana Holgorsen, the new offensive coordinator and playcaller of Nebraska football, took the stage on Tuesday for his first media availability since he arrived in Lincoln.
Unsurprisingly, if you have followed Holgorsen throughout his career especially during stops as head coach at Houston and West Virginia, the Huskers’ new OC gave point-blank honesty and matter-of-fact thoughts on the players in the building. Those evaluations were based solely on game film, practice reps and, as it should be, football-exclusive factors.
Afterward, Inside Nebraska’s Zack Carpenter and Tim Verghese jumped in front of the camera to break down Holgorsen’s first game calling the shots on offense against USC, what his next one against Wisconsin could or will look like, and a breakdown of his press conference interview.
Watch their analysis – plus the Holgorsen interview in its entirety – in the video links below and on the Inside Nebraska YouTube channel. Subscribe to our channel for FREE to get even more daily content on all things Nebraska. Listen to the audio version on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The No. 20 Nebraska women’s basketball team put out a statement in its first road trip of the early 2024-25 season. Behind a school-record 20 three-pointers, the Huskers destroyed South Dakota in a 113-70 thrashing at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls on Saturday.
Four NU players put up double-digit points, including a team-high 23 from five-star freshman Britt Prince in her second game after returning from injury. She was an outstanding 10-for-13 from the field with four assists. Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Natalie Potts added 22 points with seven rebounds while Alexis Markowski (14), Kendall Moriarity (13) and Kendall Coley (12) also added to the stat sheet.
Nebraska shot over 63% from the field and went 20-for-34 from deep in a performance that will keep the Huskers’ confidence riding high going into Tuesday’s contest at home.
Here’s all you need to know as NU welcomes in North Alabama for a week night matchup.
How to Follow Along
Matchup: No. 20 Nebraska (4-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. North Alabama (2-2, 0-0 Atlantic Sun)
When: Tuesday, November 19
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE
Time: 7 p.m. CST
Watch: B1G+
Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates
North Alabama Scout
Head Coach: Candi Whitaker | 1st Season | 233-224 (.510) Career HC Record | 7 WNBA Draftees, 2x DII NCAA Tournament Appearances | Past head coaching stops at Missouri Western (DII), Texas Tech and UMKC.
2023-2024 Record: 12-18 (8-8 Atlantic Sun, T-6th) | 1x Third Team All-ASUN, 1x ASUN All-Freshman Team | Did not qualify for the postseason.
All-Time Series: First meeting.
Fun Fact: North Alabama head coach Candi Whitaker is no stranger to the Huskers, despite it being the first meeting between the two programs. The starting point guard for Texas Tech during her playing days, Whitaker led the Red Raiders to a pair of victories over Nebraska. In 2001 Tech won 66-50 and followed up with a 99-57 thumping of NU in 2002.
Key Returners: Alyssa Clutter, G, Jr. | Veronaye Charlton, G, Soph. | Rhema Pegues, G, Jr. | Sara Wohlgemuth, G, Gr. | Katie Criswell, G, Soph. | India Howard, F, Jr.
Key Additions: Charity Gallegos, G, Sr. (Cal-State San Marcos) | Jazzy Klinge, F, Jr. (Johnson County CC) | Sarang West, G, Jr. (Allen CC).
Key Departures: Alexis Callins, G, Gr. (Union) | Allie Craig Cruce, F (Eligibility).
Outlook: It’s a new era for North Alabama women’s basketball in just the school’s third season as part Division I and the FCS after coming up from Division II. UNA did not renew the contract of former head coach Missy Tiber, who led the Lions to a 172-147 record over 11 seasons.
Instead, athletic director Josh Looney brought along his hire from Missouri Western Candi Whitaker. Looney hired Whitaker at MWSU in 2019, in which she led the Griffons to an overall record of 100-47 with an Division II Elite Eight Appearance in 2022, 2024 MIAA Regular Season Championship and 2024 MIAA Coach of the Year. Whitaker also brings key experience as a head coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (two postseason appearances) from 2006-12 and Texas Tech–her alma mater– where she averaged just over 10 wins a season.
The Lions are .500 early in Whitaker’s first season, beating UT Martin (66-63) and South Alabama (71-62) while losing to Tennessee Tech (73-64) and a most recent trip to Kansas (81-64).
Only two players averaged double-digit points last season and both Alexis Callins (Union) and Allie Craig Cruce (graduated) are both gone from the roster. However, the Lions returned most of their roster that went 12-18 in 2023-2024. Give credit to Whitaker, who unlocked the abilities of Cameron Jones (10.5 PPG) and Emma Kate Tittle (9.3 PPG) who were the bottom two scorers from last season.
Cal-State San Marcos transfer Charity Gallegas has been leading the way with 11.3 points per game with Clutter (7.8 PPG), Katie Criswell (6.8 PPG) and India Howard (5.8 PPG) all adding help. Transfer forward Jazzy Klinge has also provided four points and two rebounds per game off the bench. She came in from Allen Community College where she was a first-team NJCAA All-American last season.
For a program trying to find its footing in the Division I scene, a hire like Whitaker should spell confidence moving forward. However, it could be a painful couple years before seeing the rewards. A 10th-place voting in the ASUN preseason poll points toward a rough season, and the Huskers will most likely be their second consecutive blowout loss for the Lions.
MORE: Nebraska Volleyball Setter Claims Fourth Weekly Big Ten Conference Honor
MORE: Carriker Chronicles: Dawson Merritt on Choosing Nebraska Over Alabama & More
MORE: Huskers Have Two Chances for Win No. 6
MORE: Nebraska Volleyball Remains at No. 2 in Latest AVCA Rankings
MORE: What Will it Take for Nebraska Football to Turn the Corner?
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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