Gov. Otter Appoints Public And Private Stakeholders To Study Medicaid Expansion, Insurance Exchange

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Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has created two groups to study Idaho’s health care options under the federal Affordable Care Act.

As some Republican governor’s across the U.S. are rejecting key components of President Obama’s health care law, Gov. Otter has said Idaho’s best bet is to carefully examine expanding Medicaid and creating a health insurance exchange.

The governor’s office announced 26 public and private stakeholders to work on the issue.  The group tasked with studying a Medicaid expansion will be lead by Idaho Department of Health and Welfare director Dick Armstrong.  The second group, which will evaluate a health insurance exchange will be lead by Idaho Department of Insurance director Bill Deal.

Here’s the list of participants:

Working group on Medicaid expansion:

• Senator Patti Anne Lodge of Huston
• Senator Dan Schmidt of Moscow
• Representative Fred Wood of Burley
• Idaho Department of Correction Director Brent Reinke
• Dan Chadwick, Idaho Association of Counties
• Gooding County Commissioner Tom Faulkner
• Dr. Ted Epperly, Family Medical Residency of Idaho
• Dr. Bill Woodhouse, Family Medical Residency Program, Idaho State University
• Steve Millard, Idaho Hospital Association
• Susie Pouliot, Idaho Medical Association
• Rev. Bill Roscoe, Boise Rescue Mission
• Elizabeth Ambrose Gray, nurse practitioner
• Denise Chuckovich, Idaho Primary Care Association
• Stephen Weeg, Health West Inc.

Working group on health insurance exchange:

• Senator John Goedde of Coeur d’Alene
• Representative John Rusche of Lewiston
• Representative Lynn Luker of Boise
• Zelda Geyer-Sylvia, Blue Cross of Idaho
• Scott Kreiling, Regence Blue Shield
• Dave Self, Pacific Source Health Plans
• Tom Shores, independent health insurance broker
• Kevin Settles, business owner
• Dr. John Livingston, Boise physician
• Alex LaBeau, Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry
• Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Freedom Foundation
• John Watts, Idaho Chamber Alliance

The first meeting on Medicaid expansion is scheduled for August 6 from 10:00-3:00 pm at the Department of Health and Welfare’s Boise headquarters. A meeting on the health insurance exchange hasn’t been scheduled.

The governor has requested the working groups report their findings and any recommendations this fall.