Columnists
10/01/2026 · Clay & Hamilton Region
The Three-Breath Buffer That Keeps Your Day From Driving You
Before you answer the annoying email, open the news, or say yes on autopilot, try creating a tiny pause. Three deliberate breaths can give you back the choice you thought you’d lost.
The Bird That Keeps Singing: Emily Dickinson’s Small, Stubborn Hope
Emily Dickinson gives hope feathers, a perch, and one remarkable habit: it sings without asking for anything in return. Read this tiny poem today when you need courage that doesn’t make a speech.
09/30/2026
Seneca on the Trouble We Invent Before Anything Happens
A Roman philosopher had a sharp diagnosis for modern anxiety: the mind is often more inventive in anticipation than reality ever gets the chance to be.
09/30/2026
The National Ear: Washington Keeps Betting on the Last Minute
Congress still treats deadlines like personality tests, while families and employers absorb the cost of political theater. Meanwhile, regulators and courts keep writing the rules that will shape the next decade.
09/30/2026
The Museum Audio Guide Deserves a Standing Ovation
Forget the blockbuster exhibition for a moment. The most underrated performer in any museum is the little plastic rectangle whispering historical gossip directly into your ear.
09/30/2026
Stop Pretending You Need Another Prestige Drama. Watch “The Pitt.”
“The Pitt” is the rare medical show that understands an emergency room is not a metaphor for America—it is simply a place where everyone is tired, bleeding, and making terrible decisions. Plus: four things worth your time, and one expensive-looking dud to leave in the digital lobby.
10/01/2026
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Announcements
View allSutton, NE Community Resource Links Available
City of Sutton, NE - Community Links City of Sutton: https://www.suttonne.org/ Sutton Public Library: https://www.suttonpubliclibrary.org/ Sutton Public Schools: https://www.suttonpublicschools.org/ Sutton Community Development Corporation: https://www.suttoncdc.org/ Sutton Chamber of Commerce: https://www.suttonchamber.org/
Enhanced Primary Care Payments
Enhanced Primary Care Program Discontinuation Effective July 1, 2026, the Nebraska Medicaid Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program will be discontinued. Nebraska Medicaid will no longer accept new EPC provider applications as of June 30, 2026. All EPC existing providers will automatically be disenrolled from the program on June 30, 2026, and the EPC fee schedule will end. No action is required from participating EPC providers. For questions, please email [email protected] On December 31, 2014, the enhanced federal funding to certain eligible physicians for the enhanced primary care payment for Medicaid services ended. However, Nebraska Medicaid has chosen to continue primary care enhanced payment to attested providers in the calendar year 2015 and beyond. The enhanced rate is available for providers who are fee-for-service providers with Nebraska Medicaid, as well as eligible providers who are enrolled in the Nebraska physical health managed care program. The increased payments pertain to primary care services delivered by a physician (MD or DO) with a specialty designation of family medicine, general internal medicine, or pediatrics. Physician Assistants who are supervised by a physician that is eligible for the enhanced rate are also eligible to receive the enhanced rate. The increase applies to a specific set of services and procedures that Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designates as “primary care services." Attestation: In order to qualify for the enhanced rates, eligible enrolled Nebraska Medicaid providers must attest to being a primary care physician by one of the following: Board certification as a primary care physician by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or Have furnished evaluation & management (E&M) and vaccines services (codes specified by federal regulation) that equal at least 60% of the Medicaid codes billed during the most recently completed fiscal year. Eligible providers who may qualify for the enhanced rate must complete an Attestation Form to be submitted with the identified documentation to the Medicaid central office. Providers must attest for each new provider number or any time the provider's status of eligibility changes. Attestation Form Providers should send forms and documentation to the following address: DHHS Medicaid and Long-Term Care Enhanced PCP Rates P.O. Box 95026 Lincoln, NE 68509-5026 Or Fax to: (402) 471-9103 Attention: Enhanced PCP Rates To assist in delivery of information, a dedicated email address has been created for questions and answers specific to this program change. We will gather the questions and responses and place them on our website. The email address is: [email protected]. Questions Questions regarding enhanced primary care payments may be sent to: [email protected]. Providers Fee Schedule Enhanced Primary Care Provider Fee schedule Board Certification Lists American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS)American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Medicaid Managed Care Contractors for Heritage Health CMS Final Rule: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-11-06/pdf/2012-26507.pdf. Correction to Final Rule: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-12-14/pdf/2012-29640.pdf. Q and A on Increased Medicaid Payments for PCPs Q and A on Set II Increased Payments for PCPs Q and A on Increased Medicaid Payments for managed care
National Correct Coding Initiative
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expects state Medicaid programs to follow the rules of the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI). CMS created the NCCI in 1996. NCCI promotes correct coding practices nationwide and controls incorrect coding, which can lead to incorrect payments for Medicaid claims. Coding policies are made based on rules found within the following tools: American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manual National and local policies Recent changes to national and local policies Coding guidelines from national societies Analysis of standard medical and surgical practices Reviews of current coding rules. CMS reviews and updates these policies yearly to ensure all NCCI coding practices match Medicaid claims. The CMS website contains the following: Medicaid-specific NCCI manuals More information about NCCI NCCI Policies Coding Policy Manuals NCCI (procedure to procedure and MUE) edits Compliance checks take place to evaluate claims against the NCCI edits both before and after payment. Reviewing pre-payment editing may result in claim denial; reviewing post-payment editing may result in a refund request. CMS instructs states to use NCCI edits first. Edits from each state are then applied to the claims. Payment of a claim is dependent on compliance with all NCCI and Nebraska-specific edits. Most Nebraska Medicaid claims are compatible with CMS standards. Nebraska Medicaid will post changes and helpful tools as they become available. Program Integrity Department of Health & Human Services Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care Email Address [email protected] Nebraska Implementation of the National Correct Coding InitiativeFrequently Asked Questions (updated 11/20/2017) NCCI Provider Information Betsie Steenson Department of Health & Human Services Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care Phone Number (402) 471-9353 Email Address [email protected]
Public Notices
View allNebraska Funeral Home Disciplined Following Cremation of Remains without a License
Other - 09/25/2026
Attorney General Mike Hilgers Urges Consumers to Claim Compensation for Inflated Generic Drug Prices
Other - 09/22/2026
Attorney General Hilgers Joins $694 Million Multistate Settlement with Subprime Auto Lender Credit Acceptance Corporation
Other - 09/17/2026
The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office Files Complaints in Petition Case
Other - 09/15/2026
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