BOISE \u2014 Gov. C. L. \u201cButch\u201d Otter announced a new $30 million program on Thursday that would provide coverage for basic medical care to nearly 78,000 Idahoans caught in a gap where they neither qualify for health insurance subsidies or Medicaid.<\/p>\n
Otter told reporters at Associated Press Legislative Preview that he will ask Idaho lawmakers to approve the new plan during this year\u2019s legislative session, which begins Monday.<\/p>\n
The plan is a state-funded alternative rather than choosing to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act \u2014 an option the Republican-dominated Idaho Statehouse has rejected repeatedly. However, lawmakers have acknowledged for years that the state\u2019s current system of caring for the indigent is broken.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t had the political will. I have not seen the political will,\u201d Otter said. \u201cThere\u2019s always some resistance to starting a new program, to expanding a program, and especially a program that\u2019s initiated by the federal government. I can understand that resistance\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the proposal, qualifying participants would be adults who currently have no access to affordable coverage and who fall below 100 percent of the federal poverty level.<\/p>\n
They would be eligible to receive preventive primary medical care services such as acute care for illnesses, chronic condition management \u2014 like diabetes or asthma \u2014 and limited in-office behavioral health services. The program would not cover hospital stays, emergency room visits or specialty care.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe this is an Idaho solution to try to provide for those folks in the gap,\u201d Otter said. \u201cIs it a total solution? I would be misleading you if I said it was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Providers would be paid $32 monthly for each enrolled participant.<\/p>\n
Legislative leaders voiced support for the plan immediately following the Republican governor\u2019s announcement but offered no promises it would pass.<\/p>\n
House Minority Assistant Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, said he was disappointed the state plan only partially addressed medical care needs. He added that Idahoans would end up paying more in the end because the state would not be using available federal funding to help cover the costs as provided through Medicaid expansion.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, and Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said the plan would receive full hearings in both chambers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not lost on us that we\u2019re dealing with people\u2019s lives here. This is a real issue, and this is a serious issue,\u201d said Hill. \u201cWe\u2019ve gone 100 years without providing this service \u2014 we want to do it right. And this seems like a good step.\u201d<\/p>\n
The primary care plan was one of several topics Otter and legislative leaders discussed Thursday.<\/p>\n
Lawmakers touched on K-12 education funding, public defense reform and water management all while stressing that they want to adjourn in 65 because it\u2019s an election year.<\/p>\n
One possible topic will be amending the state\u2019s Human Rights Act to include protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual individuals by adding the words \u201csexual orientation\u201d and \u201cgender identity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have some pretty good options to address it,\u201d Hill said on adding the words. \u201cBut are both sides of the issue willing to address something to get up what they want? We have people on both sides that do not want to give anything to the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bedke said that he hasn\u2019t seen any legislation that would allow Idahoans to carry concealed guns without a permit, but said he\u2019s interested to see how and if the legislation moves through the Statehouse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BOISE \u2014 Gov. C. L. \u201cButch\u201d Otter announced a new $30 million program on Thursday that would provide coverage for basic medical care to nearly 78,000 Idahoans caught in a gap where they neither qualify for health insurance subsidies or Medicaid. Otter told reporters at Associated Press Legislative Preview that he will ask Idaho lawmakers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n