Nebraska
Seven behavioral health care providers tapped for new program that helps Nebraskans in crisis • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — Seven behavioral health care providers have been selected to launch a new certification program designed to improve mental health and substance use care across the state — and provide around-the-clock crisis help for Nebraskans.
Called the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics initiative, the effort has been described as “transformational.” To start, it will involve: CenterPointe, Community Alliance, Heartland Counseling Services, Heartland Family Services, Lutheran Family Services, South Central Behavioral Health Services and The Well.
“This is a significant step for Nebraska,” said Matt Ahern, interim director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid and Long-Term Care division. “We’re really excited about this model because it incentivizes a more integrated care — a whole person approach rather than segmenting behavioral health from physical health and everything else happening in a person’s life.”
Serves all
Selection of providers, announced Wednesday, follows passage last year of Legislative Bill 276, the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Act, sponsored by State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln and signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen.
This is a monumental step toward building healthier and stronger communities.
– State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln
CCBHCs emerged from the Excellence in Mental Health Act, a federal law signed in 2014 to improve the nation’s mental health system. The model ensures that clinics provide a wide array of services, such as crisis response, medication management, psychotherapy and community and peer support.
In return, providers are allowed to participate in a restructured payment model that better accounts for costs associated with services, according to a DHHS news release. Certified clinics are required to serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence or age.
Over the next year, the Nebraska DHHS divisions of Behavioral Health and Medicaid and Long-Term Care will work with the seven provider organizations to develop services needed to meet the state requirements and federal criteria determined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Programs are to be up and running by January 2026.
“The CCBHC model allows a clinic to truly focus on delivering the quality of care and breadth of services a person needs,” said Thomas Janousek, director of DHHS Behavioral Health. “It focuses on reducing administrative barriers for providers which ultimately results in better care for the individuals it serves.”
‘No-brainer’
By launching the initiative, Wishart said, the state is “transforming” the way Nebraskans access mental health and substance abuse care, in a coordinated and comprehensive way that fills service gaps.
“This is a monumental step toward building healthier and stronger communities,” she said Wednesday.
Wishart has said she expects the CCBHCs to reduce emergency room visits and incarcerations. Data from other states that have implemented such clinics have shown reductions in law enforcement involvement and hospital usage, state officials have said.
Pillen has called the legislation a “no-brainer” for Nebraska. His testimony at a legislative hearing in early 2023 surprised some, as the Republican governor stepped across the political aisle to speak on behalf of a bill introduced by a Democrat, Wishart.
At the time, Pillen said that Nebraskans “must come together to solve tough problems.”
After completing the certification program, a provider is to be recognized as a CCBHC, offering integrated physical and behavioral health services to Nebraska families. Services are to include: around-the-clock crisis support; easy access to mental health and substance use care; tailored treatment plans; specialized care for veterans and military personnel; peer support; comprehensive psychiatric rehabilitation.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Greeley man hit the jackpot last year but stole the winning scratch ticket, court documents say.
Jeremiah Ehlers was arrested Monday on suspicion of felony theft by deception, according to Lancaster County Jail booking records.
In an arrest warrant affidavit, a deputy with the Nebraska Department of Revenue said Ehlers claimed the top prize of a scratch ticket worth $300,000 on April 12, 2024.
Ehlers was paid out $213,000 after taxes, according to the affidavit.
On April 23, the company that owns the Greeley Rapid Stop — where Ehlers worked as a store manager — notified the Nebraska Lottery about a theft.
The company provided investigators with surveillance video that showed Ehlers playing the winning scratch ticket before paying for it, the affidavit alleges.
After the winning ticket was validated, Ehlers paid for it, which authorities said was a violation of state law.
Investigators put a freeze on Ehlers’ bank accounts for $128,769.31. Ehlers had spent the rest of the money on two vehicles, contractor services and payoffs to creditors, according to the affidavit.
An arrest warrant for Ehlers was issued on Jan. 3 and he was taken into custody on Monday.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Rumors of ICE activity and arrests have spread throughout parts of eastern Nebraska, fueled by promises of mass deportations from Washington.
While 10/11 News has received information on potential ICE operations in Lincoln, Omaha, Fremont, and Schuyler, local and federal authorities have provided little confirmation.
A post made by the Omaha DEA on Sunday shows agents working with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce immigration policy, but it does not specify where the enforcement took place. The Omaha DEA covers a five-state region and confirmed it has not conducted any operations in Nebraska since President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
10/11 News reached out to ICE for clarification on where these operations occurred, but a media representative did not immediately respond. The media phone line for ICE was also busy for much of Monday.
An anonymous source from a Lincoln advocacy group told 10/11 News they had been assisting immigrants affected by ICE activity, but the group declined to discuss the extent of the activity or whether it took place in Lincoln or elsewhere. Both the Lincoln Police Department and Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they had not responded to any ICE calls for service.
Meanwhile, immigrants and advocates have turned to social media to share information about potential ICE operations in Lincoln and Omaha. Some posts provide legal rights information, while others show videos of vehicles with state plates, claiming they are unmarked federal vehicles.
A frequently shared post pointed to ICE activity in Schuyler, Nebraska, home to a Cargill meat processing plant that employs many immigrants. The post, from the Omaha-based law firm Kendall, Crawford & Reeker, PC LLO, alleges that ICE and other federal agents conducted sweeps in Schuyler on Monday.
ICE, again, has not commented on any activities in the community, and the Schuyler Police Department did not respond. The Colfax County Sheriff’s Office said it had not been called to assist in any sweeps or raids, however.
Another rumor circulating on social media suggested ICE agents planned to visit Schuyler Community Schools on Monday. However, Superintendent Dr. Bret Schroder told 10/11 News he was addressing a different rumor.
Dr. Schroder confirmed he had heard about a teacher’s supposed arrest by ICE but quickly dismissed it as false. While he had heard rumors of ICE agents passing through the community, he received no information about agents visiting the school.
The superintendent said his primary responsibility is the education and safety of students dropped off at his schools each day, not the federal authorities who may be investigating them.
10/11 News spoke with a representative from Kendall, Crawford & Reeker, PC LLO, who confirmed that some immigration-related arrests had been made in Nebraska recently, but none were severe enough to constitute a raid. The representative added that the firm’s phone, however, had been ringing off the hook in recent days.
On Monday evening, the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement posted on social media that it had arrested 1,179 immigrants that day alone.
ALSO WATCH: Night Beat with Danielle Shenk
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News
Nebraska Farm Bureau wants to capitalize on SAF potential
Nebraska Farm Bureau president Mark McHargue says his state has an opportunity to capitalize on the sustainable aviation fuel market.
Speaking to Brownfield at the American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, Texas, he said Nebraska is developing a pipeline to capture carbon dioxide.
“So I think using our ethanol or corn stover to go into sustainable aviation fuel is going to be important.”
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