LINCOLN - Nebraska lawmakers allocated $3 million to support domestic violence survivors, but that funding may never be released because the state source lawmakers tapped is now over-committed and lacks enough money to cover all budgeted programs.

The $3 million was supposed to come from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund, which holds surplus profits from the state’s Medicaid managed care insurers. However, the fund’s revenues have declined sharply and it’s now projected to be over-obligated — meaning more programs were approved than there is money available. Without clear legislative direction on how to prioritize the various earmarks, officials have not released the domestic violence funds, leaving advocates unsure if the support will ever arrive.

Domestic violence service providers in Nebraska are already stretched thin, with rising demand amid limited resources. Prior attempts to use other funding streams, like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, were thwarted because federal confidentiality rules prevented their use. With the Excess Profit Fund short on cash, providers may face deeper cuts to shelters and services just as many survivors need help most.

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