68-908 Department; powers and duties.
68-908. Department; powersand duties.(1) The department shall administerthe medical assistance program.(2) The department may (a) enter into contracts and interagencyagreements, (b) adopt and promulgate rules and regulations, (c) adopt feeschedules, (d) apply for and implement waivers and managed care plans foreligible recipients, and (e) perform such other activities as necessary andappropriate to carry out its duties under the Medical Assistance Act. A covered item or service as describedin section 68-911 that is furnished through a school-based health center,furnished by a provider, and furnished under a managed care plan pursuantto a waiver does not require prior consultation or referral by a patient'sprimary care physician to be covered. Any federally qualified health centerproviding services as a sponsoring facility of a school-based health centershall be reimbursed for such services provided at a school-based health centerat the federally qualified health center reimbursement rate.(3) The department shall maintain the confidentiality of informationregarding applicants for or recipients of medical assistance and such informationshall only be used for purposes related to administration of the medical assistanceprogram and the provision of such assistance or as otherwise permitted byfederal law.(4)(a) The department shall prepare an annual summary andanalysis of the medical assistance program for legislative and public review,including, but not limited to, a description of eligible recipients, coveredservices, provider reimbursement, program trends and projections, programbudget and expenditures, the status of implementation of the Medicaid ReformPlan, and recommendations for program changes.(b) The department shall provide a draft report of such summaryand analysis to the Medicaid Reform Council no later than September 15 ofeach year. The council shall conduct a public meeting no later than October1 of each year to discuss and receive public comment regarding such report.The council shall provide any comments and recommendations regarding suchreport in writing to the department no later than November 1 of each year.The department shall submit a final report of such summary and analysis tothe Governor, the Legislature, and the council no later than December 1 ofeach year. Such final report shall include a response to each written recommendationprovided by the council. SourceLaws 1965, c. 397, § 8, p. 1278; Laws 1967, c. 413, § 2, p. 1278; Laws 1982, LB 522, § 43; Laws 1996, LB 1044, § 325; R.S.1943, (2003), § 68-1023; Laws 2006, LB 1248, § 8; Laws 2007, LB296, § 247; Laws 2009, LB288, § 20; Laws 2010, LB1106, § 3.Effective Date: April 2, 2010