Overview: LB 332, "Provide for assistant funeral directors, change scope of practice and regulatory provisions regarding funeral directing and embalming, hearing instrument specialists, and audiologists, change membership provisions for the Board of Pharmacy, change provisions regarding delegated dispensing permits and prescription refills, provide medicaid coverage for psychology services, and establish the Rural Health Opportunity Program", provisions/portions amended into LB119 by AM828, introduced on January 16, 2025.
Purpose and Intent: The main purpose of this omnibus bill is to make a variety of changes to Nebraska's regulations and policies related to funeral services, pharmacy practices, Medicaid coverage, and rural healthcare.
Key Provisions:
- Establishes a new "assistant funeral director" license and scope of practice.
- Modifies regulations for funeral directing, embalming, hearing instrument specialists, and audiologists.
- Changes the membership composition of the Nebraska Board of Pharmacy.
- Allows for delegated dispensing permits and expanded prescription refill options.
- Provides Medicaid coverage for psychology services.
- Creates a Rural Health Opportunity Program to incentivize healthcare professionals to practice in rural areas.
Affected Parties and Impacts: This wide-ranging bill would impact funeral service providers, pharmacists, psychologists, and rural healthcare professionals and patients in Nebraska. The changes could expand access to certain services while also modifying regulatory requirements.
Procedural and Timeline Considerations: Key provisions of LB 332 were ultimately incorporated into the larger LB 119 bill through an amendment process. The amended LB 119 has continued to move forward in the legislative session.
