Hearings Set for Nebraska Medicaid Expansion Bills - KHGI-TV/KWNB-TV/KHGI-CD-Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have set a hearing date for a proposal to expand Medicaid coverage as part of the federal health care law.

The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee will hear public testimony on the legislation on Feb. 28 at the Capitol.

The bill was introduced in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down part of the federal health care law. The high court ruled that the federal government can't withhold funding from states that choose not expand Medicaid.

Supporters say the bill would extend coverage to more than 54,000 uninsured Nebraskans. Gov. Dave Heineman and some lawmakers have argued that the plan is unaffordable.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln and co-sponsored by 11 other lawmakers.