Politics & Government

An Essential Guide To Idaho's Medicaid Program

In the world of social programs, Medicaid is one of the hardest to understand. It’s something of a catch-all program for low-income people, covering broad and divergent needs. Included are healthy children and adults with eligible dependent children, people with disabilities or special health needs, and the elderly. Eligibility is income-based and it varies according the category of qualification for the program.During the state’s 2011 fiscal year, more than three quarters of the funding allocated to the Department of Health and Welfare’s budget went to Medicaid. The program received about $1.55 billion in federal and state funding, with 74 percent of those dollars coming from the federal government.Enrollment in Idaho’s Medicaid program has grown substantially in recent years. The average monthly Medicaid enrollment was fairly stable between 2006 and 2008. It grew by about 3.5 percent. But in the last three years, the program’s enrollment has grown nearly 21 percent. Ballooning from about 185,000 in 2008 to 228,897 in 2012.

Idaho Lawmakers Set Final Interim Meeting About Medicaid Expansion

Boise State Public Radio News | By Frankie Barnhill

Published October 25, 2016 at 7:36 AM MDT

A group of lawmakers met Monday at the Idaho Statehouse to continue a discussion about a possible expansion of Medicaid.

It was the fifth time the interim legislative committee met this year to figure out a solution for the estimated 78,000 people who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford insurance on the health exchange.

Republican representative and co-chairman Marv Hagedorn (R-Meridian) pitched a limited expansion of Medicaid, where the state would accept federal funds for two years – and then overhaul the entire health care system in the meantime. Sen. Steven Thayn (R-Emmett) voiced his concerns about accountability if the state expands Medicaid.

“I’m not wanting to refuse to accept federal money on primary care on principle," says Thayn. "I feel like you can’t take federal money on primary care if you’re wanting to reduce costs, because of federal rules.”

Sen. Maryanne Jordan of Boise – one of the only Democrats on the committee – says she would like to keep Medicaid expansion an option. The final committee meeting is set for November 22, where committee leaders hope to produce a bill in time for the full legislature to convene in January.

Find Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill

Idaho Lawmakers Set Final Interim Meeting About Medicaid Expansion

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