Pillen signs Nebraska mental health services bill

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) - Gov. Jim Pillen held a signing ceremony Thursday morning for a bill adopting the Certified Community Behavioral Health Act.

LB276, introduced by State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, will give mental healthcare providers more access to behavioral healthcare plans, especially for rural parts of the state. Gov. Jim Pillen said last week that he supported the bill, calling it “a no-brainer,” noting that it will help improve care in Nebraska.

“It is important that we offer help to Nebraskans who suffer from mental health issues and substance abuse problems,” he said. “This piece of legislation will help transform mental health and substance abuse services in Nebraska. Other states that have adopted CCHBCs have called the results ‘transformational,’ and that is why signing this legislation is a no-brainer for Nebraska.”

Wishart spoke during Thursday’s ceremony thanking those who helped get the billed quickly through the legislature earlier this session.

“I want to thank Speaker Arch, who did a speaker priority; and Speaker Hansen, who worked to get this bill out of committee unanimously,” she said. “This bill is going to do a lot of good for a lot of people in our state, and I’m excited to sign it into law.”

The group was joined by state health representatives and community program providers as well.

Watch Thursday’s news conference

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