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 Governor Otter Unveils Proposals On Education, Tax Breaks In State Of The State

Boise State Public Radio News | By Samantha Wright

Published January 10, 2017 at 7:44 AM MST

capitol, statehouse, idaho — Idaho Statehouse.

Idaho Governor Butch Otter said Monday during his State of the State address that education is his top priority for his fiscal year 2018 budget request.

His speech focused on education, tax relief and Idaho’s economy.

“Our finances are secure. Revenue is exceeding expectations. Economic growth is outpacing the overall growth of government and our own operations are more transparent and efficient than ever,” says Otter.

He is also proposing some tax relief.

Otter said last week that he had seen five tax reduction proposals from lawmakers. Monday he unveiled his own idea, a 6.3 percent cut in the base tax rate for unemployment insurance paid by Idaho employers.

“That’s $46 million in tax relief in the coming year alone and $115 million over three years,” says Otter.

Otter claimed that during his tenure, over the past 10 years, he has reduced the tax burden on Idahoans by about $1 billion.

He said he won’t look at any tax relief proposals that would cut into essential state government functions, especially those for education and career readiness.

He did not offer a specific plan to address the Idahoans who fall into the so-called Medicaid Gap. These 78,000 people are stuck without health insurance between Medicaid coverage and subsidies on the Obamacare program.

Otter said we should wait to see what the Trump administration does with Obamacare, while building local partnerships.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding says it’s time to help the Gap population.

“We don’t have any reason to go backwards 15 years in terms of health care. And we must move and push for the 78,000 Idahoans who are currently uninsured, but at the same time we have to protect those Idahoans who receive significant benefits from the Affordable Care Act,” says Erpelding.

Otter says our immediate future is marked by hope and uncertainty while we wait to see what the President-elect will do with Obamacare.

He also had several proposals that he didn’t mention in his speech. Otter wants to give state employees a 3 percent raise, based on merit. He also supports building a second veterans cemetery in Eastern Idaho.

Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio

Idaho Governor Otter Unveils Proposals On Education, Tax Breaks In State Of The State

You make stories like this possible.