This section is responsible for reviewing insurance company financial records, conducting qualifying examinations, and examining surplus and excess lines records.

The Department of Insurance regulates and examines all insurance companies and certain related operations doing business in Nebraska. Regulation includes: agent licensing and examination; foreign insurer admittance; periodic examination of company affairs; automobile, property and liability rate approval; policy form approval; rating and claims practice investigation; and complaints investigations. The department also administers the Excess Liability Fund and supervises the Residual Malpractice Insurance Authority, both of which were established by the Hospital-Medical Liability Act of 1976.

The Department of Health and Human Services protects the public’s health; assists the elderly, the poor and those with disabilities; provides safety to abused and/or neglected children or vulnerable adults; and serves those in need of 24-hour facility care.

This department provides the public with insurance information and helps verify and ensure the proper handling of insurance transactions. It also handles consumer contacts and investigates consumer complaints.

This department is responsible for bulletins, notices and the department newsletter. It also acts as the liaison between the director, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the public.

The Accounting and Budget Division, within the Administrative Services Division, is responsible for the department's finances.

This department is responsible for reviewing and evaluating company financial information.

The Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care encompasses the Medicaid Program, Home and Community Services for the aging and people with disabilities, and the State Unit on Aging. The division also administers noninstitutional home- and community-based services for individuals qualified for Medicaid waivers, the aged, adults and children with disabilities, and infants and toddlers with special needs.

This department is responsible for reviewing, evaluating and processing company license applications, changes and certificates of authority. Additional responsibilities include: holding company filings; auditing and collecting premium tax and other taxes and renewal fees; examining surplus lines; and regulating and examining burial pre-need sales.

The State Unit on Aging promotes the dignity, independence and freedom of choice for older Nebraskans by providing resources on aging.

This division is responsible for evaluating and approving or disapproving life, health and annuity products marketed to Nebraska residents, as well as reviewing rate filings.

This department is responsible for confronting the problem of insurance fraud by preventing, investigating, and prosecuting fraudulent insurance acts in an effort to reduce the amount of premium dollars used to pay fraudulent claims.

This department is responsible for processing and maintaining permanent license records on producers and agencies, including issuing, renewing and terminating licenses. Additional responsibilities include supervising prelicensing educational courses, overseeing the licensing examination process, and supervising the continuing education program.

This division is responsible for determining the financial condition of insurance companies operating in Nebraska.

LeadingAge Nebraska is the only state association representing the full continuum of mission-driven, nonprofit providers of health care, housing and services for older adults in Nebraska. Members of LeadingAge Nebraska provide housing and services to more than 5,000 older persons each year. The mission of LeadingAge Nebraska is to expand the world of possibilities for aging through advocacy, education and collaboration. The organization strives for this by taking the lead in innovative practices that transform how the aging population is cared for. LeadingEdge Nebraska initiates cutting-edge practices that meet seniors' preferences and advocates for the interests of the aging consumer. LeadingAge Nebraska is affiliated nationally with LeadingAge, an association of 5,500 nonprofit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging. LeadingAge advances policies, promotes practices and conducts research that supports, enables and empowers people to live.

AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that advocates for people ages 50 and older. Since 1958, AARP has lobbied for senior issues, including the passage of Medicare in 1965. AARP offers support from staffed offices in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Nebraska Health Care Association is a nonprofit trade association representing long-term health care facilities in Nebraska.

Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS) is a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), a company contracted by the CMS to process Medicare claims. WPS processes Medicare Part A and Part B payments and claims for Jurisdiction 5, which consists of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. WPS also administers Part A and Part B legacy contracts. The Part A legacy contracts are former Mutual of Omaha providers who will eventually transition to Jurisdiction 1 (covered by Palmetto Government Benefit Administrators). They cover Hawaii, Delaware and New York. The Part B legacy contracts cover Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

CIMRO is the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for the state of Nebraska. This department works with health care organizations to ensure that the services that are delivered are appropriate, safe and high-quality. The department also educates consumers about their rights and what can be done to ensure that they receive the right care. QIOs are private, mostly not-for-profit organizations, staffed by doctors and other health care professionals, who are trained to review medical care, to help beneficiaries with complaints about the quality of care and to implement improvements in the quality of care available throughout the spectrum of care. QIOs are required under Sections 1152-1154 of the Social Security Act.

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program helps Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries avoid, detect and prevent health care fraud. The goal is to protect older people and to preserve the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The federal program was created in 1996 by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and amended in 2006 by Titles II and IV of the Older Americans Act.

Long-term care ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. They resolve complaints and educate seniors and long-term care providers about their rights and good care practices. They also provide information to the public on nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and services, residents' rights, and legislative and policy issues. In 1978, an amendment to the federal Older Americans Act required every state to have an ombudsman program that addresses complaints and advocates for improvements in the long-term care system. The ombudsman program is administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA).

The Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) were established under the Older Americans Act (OAA) Comprehensive Services Amendments in 1973 to respond to the needs of Americans 60 and older in every local community. The amendments added a new Title V, which authorized grants to local community agencies in every state. The AAAs provides a range of options that allow older adults to choose the home- and community-based services and living arrangements that suit them best.

The State Health Insurance Information Assistance Program (SHIIP) is a national program that offers counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and to their families. Coordinators provide counseling on Medicare benefits, Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D), Social Security, Medicaid and veterans' benefits. SHIIP, formerly the Information, Counseling and Assistance (ICA) grants program, was created under section 4360 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. This act authorized the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make grants to states for health advisory services programs for people with Medicare.

Tom Macy has served as CEO of Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital since October 2005. Under his leadership, the facility was ranked the 38th best hospital for orthopaedics in U.S. News Media and World Reports’ 2011-12 Best Hospitals rankings.

Before becoming president and CEO of Methodist Health System in 2007, John Fraser served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Methodist Hospital. In his role at the hospital, he led the planning and construction of Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center and Methodist HealthWest. Earlier in his career he was vice president of medical and professional services at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and received a master’s degree in health care administration from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Before he became president and CEO of Nebraska Medical Center, Glenn Fosdick held senior management positions at Hurley Medical Center in Michigan and Buffalo General Hospital. As a leader, he promotes the Six Sigma management philosophy of quality improvement and control, and the Center has conducted hundreds of Six Sigma projects under his leadership seeking to make care delivery more effective. In addition to his work with the Center, he is also a director of SimplyWell LLC.

Richard A. Hachten has served as president of Alegent Health since 1996 and has been CEO since 2009. He previously served as president of Bergan Mercy Medical Center and chief executive of Tri-City Medical Center in California. Earlier in his career he was also CEO of Methodist Hospital of Southern California in Arcadia. He received his MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Richard A. Hachten has served as president of Alegent Health since 1996 and has been CEO since 2009. He previously served as president of Bergan Mercy Medical Center and chief executive of Tri-City Medical Center in California. Earlier in his career he was also CEO of Methodist Hospital of Southern California in Arcadia. He received his MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.

The Health and Human Services Committee is responsible for processing legislation involving the following subject areas: public health; hospitals, nursing homes, homes for the aged, health facilities, certificate of need; mental health regions, commitment, alcoholism and drug programs; professional and occupational licensing, boards; medical assistance; emergency medical care, services, ambulances; Department of Health and Human Services; children, diseases, maternal and infant care; housing and building standards; vital statistics, rural and local health, generic drugs, Radiation Control Act, Asbestos Control Act; public assistance; children, foster care, child care, support, placement, adoption; and aging.

The Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee is responsible for processing legislation involving the following subject areas: banks, banking practices, branch banking, auxiliary tellers, organizations; Department of Banking and Finance, administration; credit unions; building and loan associations; loans, interest, consumer credit, Installment Sales Act; industrial loan and investment companies; public funds, investment, deposit; public bodies, authorities, issue bonds; insurance companies, agents and brokers, guaranty associations; Department of Insurance, administration; insurance policies, coverage, types of insurance, actions, liability; risk management; Health Maintenance Organization Act; Uniform Commercial Code, trust administration, partnerships, corporations, business trusts, Securities Act, business entities; and real estate.