HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) -Gov. Jim Pillen visited Revive Inc., a drug and alcohol treatment center in Hastings, as the facility’s president called on the state to increase behavioral health reimbursement rates.
Christine Kasperbauer, president of Revive Inc., walked Pillen through the building and told him the facility needs more funding. The center, which opened in January 2025, is already at capacity with a wait list of about 20 people.
Funding and staffing needs
Kasperbauer said current behavioral health reimbursement rates are not high enough to attract and retain nurses.
“Our behavior reimbursement rates aren’t high enough,” Kasperbauer said. “So, it’s hard to pay nurses enough money to come here. And the state of Nebraska and legislature needs to know that we need higher health reimbursement rates.”
She said even a 3 percent increase in state funding would help. Kasperbauer also said she wants to upgrade the facility for new learning opportunities and infrastructure improvements. Those renovations are expected to cost $1.6 million. Among the planned upgrades is a kitchen project called The Old Garden Buffet.
Governor’s response
Pillen said the state is taking steps to address mental health through legislation.
“It’s called the Rural Health Transformation bill,” Pillen said. “$218 million dollars is going to be utilized on a number of fronts and a key piece of it is training our youth to have more health providers and to be part of mental health and rehabilitation.”
Pillen also expressed support for the work Revive Inc. has done.
Residents’ stories
Daniel Muir, one of the first residents at Revive Inc., graduated from the program and is now a restaurant manager.
“I was a drug dealer,” Muir said. “You have to keep working hard.”
Other current residents also spoke about their experiences at the facility. Resident Bobby Brown said methamphetamines and marijuana are his addictions and that he wants to own a window company.
Resident Chanda Schroyer said she is working through some troubles and credited the facility with changing her life.
“This place has changed my life,” Schroyer said. She said she wants to become a nurse.
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