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 Senate Chair Opposes Medicaid Restrictions: "The People Have Spoken"

Boise State Public Radio News | By James Dawson

Published January 4, 2019 at 11:15 AM MST

The chairman of the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee says he opposes adding work requirements under the state’s new Medicaid expansion.

Senator Fred Martin (R-West Boise) promised a crowd of more than 70 people in West Boise Thursday night that he won’t support any new restrictions to Medicaid expansion.

“I think it’s incumbent upon us in the legislature to not make changes," Martin says. "The people have spoken."

As chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, Martin can choose whether to give a bill a hearing, effectively holding the power to block legislation.

He says he would look at an amendment “if there was some glaring need,” but he doesn’t see any at this time.

Governor Brad Little says he wants to consider work requirements, among other restrictions.

“If the governor has something, I’m going to be respectful of the governor and look at those, but we are a separate body. We’re going to deliberate separately and decide what’s best in our committee and in the full Senate,” Martin says.

The governor’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Idaho Supreme Court is also weighing the future of Medicaid expansion. The Idaho Freedom Foundation filed a lawsuit to block the popular ballot measure last year. Arguments will be held later this month.

Nearly 61 percent of Idaho voters signed off on Proposition 2 in November, which extends coverage to an estimated 92,000 low-income residents.

Follow James Dawson on Twitter @RadioDawson for more local news.

Idaho Senate Chair Opposes Medicaid Restrictions: "The People Have Spoken"

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