AGP Executive Report

Blood Supply Alert: LifeServe Blood Center says donations are down beyond the usual summer dip, leaving only a 1–2 day supply for key types like O-negative, O-positive and A-negative, and urging Nebraskans and nearby donors to book appointments now to avoid treatment delays. Public Health & Policy: A national report on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation highlights concerns that cuts to the public health safety net and vaccine misinformation have helped drive a surge in outbreaks, with experts pointing to measles and other diseases rebounding. Wildfire Health Impact: Wildfires near Spokane, Washington have forced evacuations of about 60,000 people and destroyed at least 600 homes and structures, including precautionary evacuation of VA hospital patients—raising urgent air-quality and emergency-care concerns for the region. Nebraska Health Research: The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is among NSF’s new Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers, funded with $108 million to support next-gen medical imaging and drug-delivery research. Local Safety: A Merrick County crash sent one person life-flighted to an Omaha trauma center; alcohol is suspected in the other driver’s actions.

Nebraska Back-to-School Health: Doctors are urging families to use required kindergarten and seventh-grade physicals to catch vision, hearing, dental, nutrition, sleep, and developmental issues early—plus mental health needs, as Nebraska youth are more likely to need care than peers nationwide. Public Health Watch: A string of outbreaks is testing the U.S. public health system amid funding cuts and vaccine resistance, while Ebola concerns grow as a fast-moving outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spreads with limited tools for the specific virus type. Dog Dental Warning: Nebraska vets say persistent bad breath in dogs should be evaluated for dental disease and sometimes internal problems like diabetes, kidney, or liver issues. Blood Supply Alert: LifeServe and the Red Cross are sounding alarms about dangerously low blood donations, especially during summer demand. Safety on the Ground: A Lincoln weekend wrap-up included an accidental shooting outside Scheels and a fatal grain bin incident near Ashton. Policy & Care Access: Coverage highlights how SNAP cuts and Medicaid work requirements are reshaping eligibility and coverage, with health advocates warning of real impacts on vulnerable families.

Medicaid & Access in Nebraska: Health advocates say Nebraska’s “rushed” rollout of new Medicaid work requirements is creating barriers for patients, including long waits for help and unanswered questions as enforcement ramps up. Public Health & Heat: A dangerous Western heat dome is pushing tens of millions under heat alerts, raising major public health risks and extreme fire danger. Food Assistance: SNAP benefit schedules for August 2026 were released, with states using different timing rules for EBT payments. Mental Health: A new look at depression rates highlights how symptoms have risen in recent years and that many people still don’t get treatment. Blood Supply: LifeServe and the Red Cross are urging blood donations as summer demand and incidents can quickly drain hospital supplies. Local Wellness: Nebraska doctors encourage back-to-school physicals to catch vision, hearing, dental, nutrition, sleep, and mental health issues early. Community Health Education: Beyond Vision LNK is promoting more eye health education in Nebraska K–12 schools, focusing on problems that standard screenings can miss. Safety & Care: A Bennington-area sports medicine training brought together EMS, athletic trainers, and coaches to improve emergency response for serious injuries on the field. Health Policy & Rights: Anti-trans ballot measures are set for November in multiple states, including Nebraska, as debates over youth care and sports eligibility intensify.

Rural Health Funding in Nebraska: Nebraska has awarded nearly $100 million of its first-year Rural Health Transformation Program allotment, with DHHS saying it’s on track and rolling out a public dashboard to show where money is going. Medicaid Work Rules Pushback: Health advocates warn Nebraska’s “rushed” Medicaid work requirements are creating delays and confusion for enrollees, with many questions still unanswered as enforcement ramps up. Blood Supply Alert: The American Red Cross and LifeServe are urging donations as summer demand and low turnout leave Nebraska and the region short on blood—especially critical for hospitals during accidents and cancer care. Back-to-School Checkups: Nebraska doctors say required physicals for kindergarten and seventh grade are a chance to catch vision, dental, nutrition, sleep, and mental health issues early. Public Health Under Strain: A national report links a string of outbreaks to funding cuts and vaccine resistance, raising concerns about the resilience of the U.S. public health system. Heat Dome Health Risks: A dangerous Western heat dome is driving major/extreme heat alerts, with cooling centers open and public health officials warning about heat exposure. Eye Health Education: Beyond Vision LNK is pushing for more functional vision education in Nebraska schools, arguing standard screenings can miss problems that affect learning.

Medicaid Access in Focus: Nebraska health advocates are warning that the state’s “rushed” rollout of federal Medicaid work requirements is creating delays and confusion, with some residents waiting up to 90 minutes for help and questions still unanswered as enforcement ramps up. Rural Health Funding: Nebraska has awarded nearly $100 million of its first-year Rural Health Transformation Program funds and launched a public dashboard to track where money is going across the state. Public Health Alerts: DHHS issued a Harmful Algal Bloom health alert for Maskenthine Reservoir in Stanton County, closing swimming beaches and urging residents to avoid exposure. Care Innovation: UNL researchers are developing a wearable “sticker” that tracks walking patterns to help detect disease earlier, with UNMC clinicians linking gait changes to medical issues. Vision Education: Beyond Vision LNK is pushing for more eye health education in Nebraska K–12 schools, highlighting functional vision problems that can slip past standard screenings. Blood Supply: The American Red Cross is warning of a nationwide and Nebraska blood shortage, urging donors to help refill critical supplies. Mental Health Access for Veterans: A new partnership connects Omaha-area veterans to more affordable mental health care through referrals and reduced-cost services. Health & Wellness Spotlight: Former Packers running back Ahman Green shared his early-onset Parkinson’s diagnosis, underscoring the importance of staying active and managing health proactively.

Medicaid Work Rules Fallout: Nebraska’s “rushed” rollout of new Medicaid work requirements is leaving people waiting on hold and still confused about eligibility and exemptions, with advocates warning participation is dropping as Aug. 1 coverage losses approach. Public Health Alert: DHHS issued a Harmful Algal Blooms health alert for Maskenthine Reservoir in Stanton County after microcystin levels exceeded the 8 ppb threshold; swimming beaches are closed and residents are told to avoid exposure and keep pets out of the water. Disability Care Oversight: The Nebraska Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee reviewed DHHS quality improvements, staffing and preventable-death concerns, and discussed updating the interRAI assessment tool and possible Medicaid waiver impacts. Local Care Access: CHI Health Clinic Kearney added family medicine physician Abby Richardson, MD, expanding prenatal and postpartum services and bilingual care. Health & Safety in the News: A vehicle crash into Lincoln Station’s Great Hall sent two people to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries as the driver faces multiple charges. National Health Policy Watch: A new analysis says many states expanded care for children, older adults and workers, but upcoming federal cuts to Medicaid and other programs could undo progress.

Medicaid Shake-Up: Trump’s Medicaid work requirements are now taking legal effect, with millions facing coverage cuts as states build verification systems and send notices. Rural Care Access: Air Methods’ LifeNet 1-5 returned to Omaha as a “flying ICU,” expanding rapid specialty-care reach for critically ill patients across the Midwest. Cancer Treatment in Nebraska: Cancer Partners of Nebraska in Lincoln is offering daraxonrasib, an oral pancreatic cancer drug shown to extend life expectancy for certain patients. Local Health Transparency: Nebraska DHHS launched an RHTP dashboard to track Rural Health Transformation Program funding and progress. Public Health Recognition: Panhandle Public Health District earned national NACCHO Model Practice awards, including a maternal self-monitored blood pressure initiative. Health & Safety in the News: A woman died after a fiery I-80 Omaha crash; another fatal crash occurred near Beatrice, while multiple Omaha-area crashes left several injured. Community Wellness Push: LifeServe Blood Center is urging blood donations during National Wellness Month, noting donor mini health screenings. Health Workforce/Policy: Senator Deb Fischer held a Senate hearing on how AI could improve communications networks—key for rural hospitals and remote patients. Healthcare Crime: A Central Nebraska Medical Clinic employee, Jennifer Nielsen, was sentenced to probation in a theft case.

Rural Health Transparency: Nebraska DHHS launched a Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) Dashboard to show how $218.5 million in first-year funding is being awarded and tracked across rural health priorities. Public Health Recognition: Panhandle Public Health District earned national NACCHO Model Practice and Promising Practice awards for programs including a Youth Advisory Council and a maternal self-monitored blood pressure initiative. Local Care Quality: Great Plains Health in North Platte received a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery designation from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, citing fewer complications for sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. Blood Supply Alert: LifeServe is urging donors as summer demand rises and supplies tighten, including a push tied to the Iowa State Fair blood drive. Health in the Spotlight: Former Packers star Ahman Green, a Nebraska alumnus, publicly shared an early-onset Parkinson’s diagnosis at 49. Health & Policy Context: A federal audit found many states temporarily placed foster children in hotels and other unsafe settings when suitable placements weren’t available. Injury Update: A tanker-truck crash near Beatrice killed the truck driver; the pickup driver was taken to a Lincoln hospital with minor injuries.

Gun Safety & Trauma: A 21-year-old Lincoln man was seriously injured after accidentally shooting himself in the leg while filming a video on how to use a gun he’d just bought; police say a tourniquet and CPR were used before surgery. Medicaid Home-Care Impact: An Omaha disabled man says his Medicaid-funded lawn mowing and snow removal stopped after federal waiver contract cuts, leaving neighbors to step in. Blood Supply Crisis: The Red Cross Iowa/Nebraska chapter says blood shortages have worsened to “crisis stage,” citing extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and foodborne illness outbreaks—hospitals may see elective surgery delays. Health IT Upgrade (VA): The Omaha VA Medical Center is rolling out a new federal electronic health record system to consolidate veteran records into one platform. Public Health & Weather: Extreme drought is driving tougher water restrictions in parts of the region. Nebraska Rankings: Nebraska placed fifth overall in U.S. News’ 2026 Best States report, with strong marks for infrastructure and fiscal stability.

State Rankings: U.S. News & World Report again put Utah at No. 1 overall, but Nebraska landed near the top at No. 5 in the 2026 Best States list, with strong marks for infrastructure and natural environment while healthcare lagged (Nebraska ranked 34th for healthcare). Local Access to Care: Results, a Norfolk-based clinic focused on medically guided weight loss and hormone health, opened a satellite site in Neligh to bring services closer to rural northeast Nebraska. Health Coverage & Policy: A new report says millions of Americans have lost healthcare coverage, but experts argue much of the drop is tied to factors like expiring ACA subsidies and other policy changes rather than one single bill. Youth Facility Oversight: Nebraska DHHS says outside evaluations show safety and operational improvements at Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers, including full compliance scores at YRTC-Kearney in a recent accreditation audit. Blood Supply Alert: LifeServe Blood Center is urging eligible donors to give now as shortages tighten, with some blood types at only a 1–3 day supply. Cancer Treatment in Nebraska: Lincoln’s April Sampson Cancer Center is offering investigational daraxonrasib for eligible adults with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer through an expanded-access program.

Rural Health Funding: Nebraska posted new Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grant opportunities, including over $2.2M for school kitchen modernization and support for Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Emergency Hospitals to upgrade infrastructure, technology and equipment. Mental Health Access: Nebraska marked the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s 4th anniversary, noting the state 988 call center handled more than 39,000 contacts in FY25 and that most calls avoided mobile crisis or ER activations. Foodborne Illness Watch: Douglas County Health reported cyclospora cases rising to 45 confirmed, as federal investigators broadened a multistate outbreak probe; Nebraska is still not officially listed as part of it. Emergency Care Recognition: CHI Health Good Samaritan’s Dr. Kenton L. Shaffer Emergency Care Center earned the Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award, one of only two Nebraska hospitals recognized this year. Care Disruption for Kids: A Ralston family says Children’s Nebraska is ending a private duty nursing program for their child with spinal muscular atrophy on Oct. 1, threatening school-year coverage. Community Health & Safety: Omaha police reported a woman taken to hospital after being hit by a car near UNMC; injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Local Health Workforce: Leiker Smiles opened a second Hays location and is accepting new patients for general dentistry services.

Cyclospora Update (Nebraska): Douglas County Health says confirmed Cyclospora cases have jumped to 45, up from 27 a week ago, as federal investigators expand a multistate probe tied to shredded iceberg lettuce. Hospital Recognition (Nebraska): CHI Health Good Samaritan’s Dr. Kenton L. Shaffer Emergency Care Center received the Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award, one of only two Nebraska facilities honored this year. Youth Safety Oversight (Kearney): Nebraska Child Welfare’s Office of Inspector General released findings on sexual-abuse allegations at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney, citing 44 allegations involving 19 staff and calling for stronger investigation practices. Medicaid Policy Fight (National): A legal showdown over federal Medicaid work requirements is set to play out in court, with arguments focused on who qualifies as “medically frail” and can keep coverage. State Health Rankings (Nebraska): WalletHub ranked Nebraska 10th for healthcare overall, highlighting strong access but lower marks on cost and outcomes. Cancer Policy (Iowa): Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand says he’d raise taxes on tobacco and nicotine and boost pediatric cancer research, while warning it needs GOP support.

State Rankings: Utah is again No. 1 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best States, with Minnesota at No. 3 and Nebraska landing at No. 5 overall—highlighting strong infrastructure and fiscal stability alongside healthcare as part of the 71-metric scorecard. Health Tech: A University of Nebraska–Lincoln engineer’s wearable “Axis Patch” aims to use continuous gait data as an early warning tool for diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, with Omaha-based CQuence Health backing clinical progress. Cancer Care: Nebraska Medicine is making an experimental pancreatic cancer drug, daraxonrasib, available after reports of longer survival in a clinical trial—bringing new hope to patients with RAS-driven tumors. Mental Health & Public Safety: An Omaha court ruling tied to the insanity defense in the shooting of an Omaha police officer is renewing calls for stronger oversight of Nebraska’s mental health system. Public Health Watch: The CDC warns West Nile tracking can lag, urging Nebraskans to rely on more current local updates during the active season. Community Health: CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island honored RN Beth Deida with its Caring Kind Award for maternity-center training and patient-safety efforts. Heat Impacts: Extreme heat continues to strain health and daily life across the Plains, including livestock events like the Lincoln County Fair moving key activities indoors to protect animals and kids.

Medicaid Work Requirements: CMS says a new federal rule will require many 19–64 adults in Medicaid expansion states to complete 80 hours a month of work or qualifying activities, projecting millions to lose coverage starting soon. Maternal Health Support: Region 7’s Maternal Health ECHO session focused on tying community support to clinical care across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. Hospital Leadership: Northwestern Medical Center in St. Joseph, Missouri named Jonathan Billings its new CEO, promoting from interim CEO/COO. Heat Safety: UNMC emergency medicine professor Dr. Eric Ernest urged Nebraskans to prevent heat illness by hydrating, watching warning signs, and taking breaks. Blood Supply Crisis: The American Red Cross warned Iowa hospitals may face delays as a type O shortage hits crisis levels, with extreme heat and outbreaks cited. Autism Therapy Access: Florida families say Medicaid abruptly stopped covering ABA therapy, leaving children without services and parents scrambling. Local Care Recognition: CHI Health St. Francis honored maternity center clinical educator Beth Deida, RN, with a Caring Kind Award. Healthcare Rankings: WalletHub’s 2026 study lists Nebraska among the better states for healthcare, using cost, access and outcomes.

Heat Safety: A dangerous heat dome is keeping tens of millions in the central U.S. under extreme heat warnings, including western Nebraska, with high humidity and overnight lows that don’t cool off—raising the risk of heat illness for outdoor workers, kids, and people without reliable cooling. Foodborne Illness Watch: The FDA and CDC are widening a cyclospora investigation tied to recalled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, with cases now reported across more states and ongoing questions about how many Nebraskans may be affected. Local Health & Community: AAA’s “E-Ride Ready” campaign rolls out safety guidance for families as e-bike and e-scooter injuries continue to rise, emphasizing helmet choice and safer riding rules. Public Health & Access: Medicaid reimbursements for routine care at Planned Parenthood clinics are set to resume where states allow it, after a nationwide one-year ban expired—potentially affecting screening and sexual health services. Nebraska Incident: Lincoln police report a motorcycle crash into a northeast home, sending the rider to a hospital. Caregiving Costs for Farmers: A Nebraska farming family says health insurance premiums have more than doubled this year, adding to already soaring farm expenses.

Heat Safety: A dangerous heat dome is pressing across the central U.S., with about 70 million people facing heat advisories and extreme heat warnings; western Nebraska is forecast near 108°F, and overnight lows won’t cool enough to help people recover. Wildfire Tragedy: Nathan Matthews, 43, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died from burn injuries after being trapped in a June 27 burnover while fighting the Knowles Fire near the Colorado-Utah border—his death marks the fourth fatality from the incident. Foodborne Illness Watch: The FDA and CDC are widening a multistate cyclosporiasis investigation tied to recalled iceberg lettuce, with cases now reported across more states and health officials urging people to avoid the implicated products. Local Health Access: A nationwide Medicaid ban on routine care at Planned Parenthood has expired, allowing clinics in states that opt in to resume Medicaid reimbursements for non-abortion services. Injury Prevention: AAA’s “E-Ride Ready” campaign is rolling out safety guidance for families as e-bike and e-scooter injuries involving young riders continue to rise. Community Health Data: Medicaid dental billing in Papillion jumped sharply in 2024, reflecting growing use of covered dental services. Medical Update: Nebraska comedian Larry the Cable Guy says he’s recovering after appendicitis and a hospital stay.