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Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services sued

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An advocacy group for affordable health care has sued the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of a 21-year-old Omaha college student denied Medicaid benefits.

The Lincoln Journal Star says Nebraska Appleseed Center's lawsuit accuses department CEO Courtney Phillips and the department's director of Medicaid and long-term care, Calder Lynch, of violating the federal Medicaid Act.

Appleseed attorney Sarah Helvey says Azar Webb should have been approved under a Medicaid category added by the Affordable Care Act for those up to age 26 who formerly were in foster care. HHS' plan authorizes federal funding only until age 21.

The lawsuit seeks to stop HHS from denying Webb coverage and reimburse him or medical professionals for care he received after he turned 21 in September.

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