Scottsbluff Member Wins Grievance After DHHS Refuses to Pay Correct Per Diem

https://napeafscme.org/2025/02/03/scottsbluff-member-wins-grievance-after-dhhs-refuses-to-pay-correct-per-diem/

February 3, 2025

NAPE/AFSCME member Brittany Smith, a Nursing Services Surveyor Consultant for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in Scottsbluff, prevailed in a grievance after DHHS refused to reimburse her at the correct per diem rate.

Brittany travels extensively for her work surveying nursing homes around Nebraska to ensure the facilities comply with federal and state regulations. She spends a lot of time on the road and has become familiar with the per diem reimbursement process.

Federal meal per diem rates increased effective October 1, 2024, but Brittany was not reimbursed at the new rate during October and part of November. Brittany was told that even though the rates had increased, DHHS would not reimburse expenses at the new rate.

“I noticed the federal rate in the guidelines had changed, so the percentage I was being reimbursed was no longer accurate because I was still getting that previous rate,” she said. “But I was told that because the reimbursement forms hadn’t been updated by the time the new rate started, I would just be reimbursed at the old rate.”

FULL story at link above.