Health & Human Services: One Year Later

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services celebrated its first anniversary as a restructured agency recently. This restructuring is bringing greater efficiency, transparency and accountability to the work of Health and Human Services.
The new structure focuses on the six core missions of the department. The six divisions are Children and Family Services, Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities, Medicaid and Long-Term Care, Public Health, and Veterans’ Homes.
The restructuring has had many positive results. Health and Human Services is working to improve services to Nebraskans and their families and the day-to-day operations of our largest state agency. There’s still much work to be done but we are making progress.
The Division of Behavioral Health continues to move forward with mental health reform begun in 2004. This effort focused on developing community-based care for mental health consumers, rather than providing treatment at Nebraska’s regional centers.
As a result, an additional 9,000 Nebraskans have accessed services closer to their homes and support systems. More than $30 million has been transferred from regional center operations into the development of community-based services. A children’s behavioral health program is being started and will be integrated into the division in the coming years.
The Division of Children and Family Services has moved more children into safe, permanent placements. The result is the number of state wards has decreased and the number of adoptions has increased. The number of out-of-home placements has also been reduced significantly. This division has been recognized as a top performer in administering the federal food stamp program and Nebraska leads the nation in food stamp accuracy.
The Division of Developmental Disabilities has responded to challenges at the Beatrice State Developmental Center and their progress has been acknowledged by federal investigators. Efforts to transition residents to appropriate community-based services have helped sixty-six Nebraskans live more independently in the last six months. 
The Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care is working to provide coordinated care in the most cost-effective way. The result is that new services are being offered, such as nurses who make house visits to high-risk pregnant teens to monitor their health and help develop parenting skills. The division is also implementing a concept known as Money Follows the Person that allows Medicaid clients the flexibility to receive care at home or in a community-based setting.
Additionally, a contract for a new information system was awarded to replace the outdated computer system housing Medicaid records. This project will improve claims processing.
The Division of Public Health received a grant to help advance Nebraska’s information in healthcare efforts by addressing technology in critical access hospitals, and funding for a cardiovascular health project. In addition, health care professionals surveyed on their interaction with the division’s regulatory unit reported a favorable rating of 96 percent.
Finally, the Division of Veterans’ Homes celebrated the opening of the newest home in Bellevue and each home has received positive federal surveys during the past year. 
 We are making progress and yet we know there is more work to be done. Health and Human Services employees are working hard to deliver quality services to Nebraskans and their families and I appreciate all of their hard work.