Reasons to Join the Nebraska Medical Association  

Advocating for our Patients 

Childhood Obesity
The NMA actively advocates for our most precious patient population through a special focus on child health and obesity. The Foster Healthy Weight in Youth Provider Toolkit and Resources developed by NMA Member Karla Lester, MD, and DHHS through a CDC grant help set standards for physicians to use in their clinics. In addition to the toolkit, the resources developed for physicians and patients are housed on the newly launched Childhood Obesity Prevention Project page of the NMA website.  

The NMA is represented in many groups working in the area of child health such as the Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Advisory Group, the Coordinated School Health Statewide Partnership Workgroup, and Nebraska Action for Healthy Kids.  

The NMA Committee on Public Health is forming partnerships with other stakeholders and organizations across the state to lobby state policy makers to take action and address the growing epidemic of childhood obesity in Nebraska.  

Health Care Reform
With passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March of 2010, the NMA will keep members informed on how this legislation will impact physicians and their patients.  

Medical Home 

The NMA’s Committee on Medical Home is working with commercial and governmental insurers to educate and provide information on the NMA Core Principles as the Medical Home concept is implemented in pilot locations across the state.
 

Motorcycle Helmet Law
NMA has continued to work to fight the repeal of the state’s motorcycle helmet law. This issue is repeatedly brought before the Nebraska Legislature and we remain active in efforts to retain the law. States without motorcycle helmet laws have far greater mortality rates and permanent injuries.  

Men’s and Women’s Health
The Section on Men’s Health and Section on Women’s Health continue to develop and disseminate information on men’s and women’s health and related events. Numerous events with participating NMA members have been held throughout the state in past years.  

Patient Grievances
Patient grievances are heard through a review process utilized through the local medical societies with the assistance of the NMA’s Board of Councilors.      

Advocating for our Physicians    

State Senator Meetings
Every year the NMA, in conjunction with our county societies, meet with our state senators to discuss upcoming legislation.  

Lobbying
NMA’s lobbyist keeps senators informed and educated about issues of interest to the state’s medical community.  

Nebraska Hospital Medical Liability Act
Nebraska is a more desirable state to practice medicine because of our malpractice award cap. This is due to the efforts of the NMA and its Professional Liability Committee which meets twice a year. We continue to work with the Legislature to maintain the cap.  

Nebraska Medical Association Political Action Committee
Our PAC meets routinely throughout the year to identify and support candidates and legislators who understand and are supportive of Nebraska physician and patient issues.   

Nebraska Medical Foundation
The NMA Foundation awards scholarships to medical students and also supports other grant requests throughout the year.  

Member Benefits 

COPIC Medical Malpractice Insurance
Malpractice insurance is available at a 10 percent reduced premium rate for all NMA members.  

NMA Health Plan
Blue Cross/Blue Shield group health insurance is available to all NMA members, their families, and office staff. This insurance is portable.  

DocBookMD
DocbookMD is an exclusive HIPAA-compliant messaging application for smartphone and tablet devices.

Foster Group
NMA has entered into an agreement with this financial consulting firm to manage NMA assets as well as to advise individual members.  

MedjetAssist
Discounted rate on medical evacuation insurance for NMA members, staff and their families.  

Delivering Knowledge
Nebraska Medicine, NMA News, STAT and other publications such as the Physician’s Voter’s Guide as well as events and other special communications.  Topics include medical liability, insurance reimbursement, Medicare/Medicaid and other current topics.  

Lobbying
NMA advocates for Nebraska patients and physicians by lobbying at the state and federal levels and mobilizing physicians for grassroots efforts.  

Solutions for Medical Practice
Assistance with regulatory payment issues and legal questions along with access to resources to help physicians address practice issues.  

Education
NMA offers workshops on topics from the roles and responsibilities of medical staff, risk management and coding.  The sessions are designed to meet physician and staff needs as they face the challenges of practicing medicine.  

Representation
NMA represents the interest of Nebraska physicians on countless committees and commissions on important topics including:  Medicaid, Medicare, mental health, professional liability, rural health, health insurance, public health, worker’s compensation and many more.  

Regulatory Advocacy
NMA works with commercial insurance carriers as well as Medicare and Medicaid to bring physician issues to the forefront and advocate for an efficient resolution. Through various advisory councils and NMA committees, physicians can voice their concerns in a concerted effort.  

Payor Related Issues
NMA represents the interest of Nebraska physicians on countless committees and commissions on important topics including: Medicaid, Medicare, mental health, professional liability, rural health, health care reform, health insurance, public health, worker’s compensation and many more. 

The NMA has three committees focused on keeping close connections between the medical community and commercial and government insurers: Committee of Medicaid Services, Committee on Medicare Services and the Committee on Health Care Insurance and Medical Delivery Systems. In addition to the NMA committee meetings, the members are represented on an advisory council that meets monthly with the Director of Medicaid as well as three times a year at the regional CMS level to discuss current hot button issues and changes within the programs. Members are also represented on WPS/Medicare’s Carrier Advisory Council (CAC) that helps influence Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) and WPS’s Provider Outreach and Education Advisory Group (POE AG) to discuss administrative concerns and provider education regarding claims and payment information. 

For more information on membership contact Membership Director Christy Beckman at christyb@nebmed.org or (402) 474-4472.