Nebraska Hospital Association’s opioid reduction program on pause due to federal funding cuts

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - The Nebraska Hospital Association’s 12-month opioid reduction program has been put on pause after federal funding was cut in late March.

The NHA was partnering with hospitals across the state on a program intended to decrease the amount of opioid-type medication prescribed to Nebraskans. It was fully supported with funding, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as part of an American Rescue Plan Act block grant.

“The opioid epidemic has touched every corner of our country,” said Jeremy Nordquist, President of the Nebraska Hospital Association. “No community, urban or rural, is immune to its impact. It is a present threat, demanding our collective attention and action. Through this program, we were going to significantly reduce the risk of opioid dependency for thousands of Nebraskans.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, the current opioid epidemic is one of the most severe public health crises in U.S. history. Programs like the one being implemented by the NHA has helped combat it.

Nebraska hospitals will continue to prioritize effective post-operative pain management, and are committed to utilizing a multimodal approach, emphasizing non-opioid strategies. When opioids are clinically necessary, established protocols aim for short-term use, typically limited to a few days. These strategies are designed to facilitate patients safe and timely return to daily activities, while minimizing unnecessary opioid exposure.

This week, 24 states filed a suit against the federal administration to challenge its cancellation of federal grants to states, like the grant supporting the opioid reduction program in Nebraska. On Thursday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the rescission of the grant funds, and the case remains active.

The NHA said the program will continue to be paused until they hear a definitive answer on federal funding.

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