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.
Nebraska
Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture proposes ban on food and beverages containing any amount of THC
LINCOLN, Neb. — A public hearing Thursday drew strong opposition to proposed rules that would label food adulterated and illegal if it contains any amount of THC and its derivatives, potentially decimating Nebraska’s hemp and CBD industry.
The regulations would affect products like gummies, beverages and oral tinctures. Over 490 people wrote in opposition to the new regulations, while only three supported them.
The rule changes stem from an executive order issued by Gov. Jim Pillen in January requiring state agencies to review laws regarding the use of synthetic THC in food and beverages. The order was made to align with federal law coming in November 2026, which bans synthetic THC products and limits total THC concentrations in hemp products to not exceed 0.4 milligrams per container.
The proposed Nebraska rule goes beyond that federal standard.
“I would say it’d be similar other than it does say no THC. It is zero THC,” said Andrew Bish, chief operating officer of Bish Enterprises. “It’s not we are deferring to the federal government standard and aligning with the federal government standard. It is, in fact, a different standard.”
Fifteen speakers testified during the hearing, with many calling for the Department of Agriculture to regulate the industry rather than enforce outright bans.
“I respectfully urge the department to pursue a balanced science-based approach that protects public safety, targets specific problems, strengths and standards where necessary and holds bad actors accountable without unnecessarily eliminating access to products that may Nebraskans find valuable and beneficial,” said Dr. Andrea Holmes, a professor of chemistry at Doane University.
Many who testified were shop owners who said the regulations would result in major business losses and reduced state revenue.
“In 2025, we pay over $1 million in sales tax. We expect to be over $1.3 million in 2026,” one speaker from The Cannabis Factory said. “We’re not opposed to regulation, or oversight, or even additional taxation.”
The Department of Agriculture will review comments and decide if any changes need to be made. If not, the regulations go to the attorney general and the governor for approval.
The regulations include a carve out for the medical cannabis acts, meaning people with medical cannabis cards could get prescriptions that would not be affected by this proposed regulation change.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said Thursday that he has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration for damage caused by storms that hit the state May 15-18.
The storms spawned tornadoes and flash flooding across Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Thayer and Thurston counties. There were numerous downed power poles and lines as well as extensive damage to schools, building and roadways. Damage just to public infrastructure is estimated at nearly $5 million.
In addition to the disaster declaration request, Pillen said he also has requested access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to governments to allow them to rebuild in ways that will reduce or mitigate future disaster losses. Approval would allow the state to apply for such grants.
Thursday’s disaster declaration request is the second in two months. Back in May, Pillen requested one for historic wildfires in March that impacted Arthur, Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morill counties. At the time of the request, it was estimated there was at least $9.7 million in damage from the fires, which were the worst in Nebraska’s history.
Nebraska
Bandits back in the win column with tournament-opening victory in Nebraska – East Idaho News
OMAHA, Neb. – The Bandits opened the Omaha, Nebraska tournament with a 7-4 win over Fremont.
The Bandits, coming off two losses to Billings at last week’s Bandits Invitational, trailed 4-3 in the fifth, but tied it up on a sac fly by Cole Croft.
They scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
Carter Bowen finished 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Conner Cannon and Taye Lords each knocked in two runs for Idaho Falls (10-2).
Tyson Christenson picked up the win with four innings of relief.
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