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Nearly 200 people dropped from Nebraska insurance program

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials have pulled nearly 200 people out of a state program that helps pay for private health insurance when doing so is cheaper than billing through Medicaid.

The decision by the Department of Health and Human Services followed a state audit that uncovered lax oversight of the Medicaid-related program. Department spokesman Russ Reno said Wednesday that 455 cases were reviewed by the first week of July.

Of those recipients, 240 were notified that there wasn't enough information to show that it was cost-effective for Medicaid to pay their premiums.

Reno says 186 were deemed cost-effective. The remaining 29 were disqualified from Medicaid altogether.

Reno says 75 recipients have filed appeals. Of those cases, 52 were submitted in time for recipients to continue receiving payments while their case is reviewed.

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