LINCOLN — Nebraska could continue prenatal care for undocumented immigrants and save $1.3 million next year by creating a special children's health insurance program, according to a new legislative analysis.
The savings would be possible because the federal government pays a larger share of costs for the state's children's health insurance program than it does for the regular Medicaid program.
The analysis by the Legislature's Fiscal Office said ending coverage altogether could save the state $7 million next year.
But the savings could disappear if children were born with major disabilities that could have been prevented with prenatal care.
More than 6,000 Nebraska women face the loss of prenatal coverage because of a change in state Medicaid policy. The new policy means women can no longer qualify for Medicaid based on their unborn child's eligibility.
Of the women affected, 998 are believed to be undocumented immigrants, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Another 5,186 are U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who might be eligible for Medicaid under other provisions.
Children's health care advocates said Thursday that a quick solution is needed.
Dr. David Filipi, president of the Nebraska Medical Association, said physicians from across the state have expressed concerned over the potential loss of prenatal care for thousands of pregnant women in Nebraska.
“They are saying, ‘fight for this issue,'” he said during a news conference in south Omaha.
He and others who spoke said the lack of prenatal care hurts babies and results in high costs for treating kidney, vision and other health problems.
“It's both tragic and unjust,” he said.
The Rev. Damian Zuerlein read a statement from Omaha Archbishop George Lucas that said Nebraska has a “solid reputation as a pro-life state with strong pro-life leadership.”
The statement also said, “To discontinue any aspect of this policy, thereby leaving any category of unborn children at greater risk of health and development problems, will weaken the foundation upon which this pro-life reputation and leadership are based.”
Andrea Skolkin, CEO of OneWorld Community Health Centers, said advocates believe the state can solve the problem with an administrative change to the state's children's health insurance program, called Kids Connection.
But Vivianne Chaumont, the state director of Medicaid and long-term care, told lawmakers in a Monday letter that any such change would require the Legislature to amend a law that bars undocumented immigrants from receiving public benefits.
An informal group of lawmakers is working on the issue. Sen. Tim Gay of Papillion said the group is trying to find a legislative solution that can win the approval of a majority of senators.
“Should an unborn child be covered is the question,” he said.
Kids Connection now covers children who are ineligible for Medicaid because their family income is too high. Under federal law, the program also can be used to cover unborn children.
Federal law does not allow Medicaid to cover unborn children. Federal officials notified HHS in December that Nebraska's Medicaid program was in violation of the federal law.
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