On Feb. 20, the League of Women Voters of Nebraska submitted testimony in support of LB498, a bill to provide for medical assistance coverage of family planning services as prescribed.

Download the submitted testimony or read the full text below.

February 20, 2019

Senator Sara Howard, Chair

Health and Human Services Committee

State Capitol

Re:  LB 498 (Wishart) Provide for medical assistance coverage of family planning services as prescribed

Dear Senator Howard and Members of the Committee,

Based on the following positions, the League of Women Voters strongly supports Senator Wishart’s bill:

“The League believes that one of the goals of good social policy should be to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families and that the most effective social programs are those designed to prevent or reduce poverty.”

As part of this desirable goal, “the League believes that every one should have access to a basic level of health care that includes:  the prevention of disease; health promotion and education; and primary care, including prenatal and  reproductive health).”

Family planning services described on pages 4 and 5 of the bill could well be instrumental in reducing poverty among Nebraskans whose income and/or lack of insurance coverage prevent access to regular preventive or supportive health care for women of child-bearing age.

The additional coverage for cancer screening, birth control methods, and domestic violence screening can diagnose cancer earlier, prevent unwanted pregnancies, and stop domestic abuse; these steps are also part of a path out of poverty.

Dollars spent to anticipate, treat, and prevent health issues in human reproduction are dollars wisely allocated, freeing dollars to go to other social needs of our state, including schools.

We urge you to advance LB 498 without delay to General File for full debate by the Senate.

Respectfully submitted,

Phyllis Salyards, M.D.
League of Women Voters of Nebraska
Sherry Miller, President
League of Women Voters of Nebraska