Group Studying Idaho Medicaid Expansion May Make Recommendation To Gov. Otter Today
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When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Affordable Care Act in June, several big decisions about health care policy landed in state leaders' laps. One of them: whether or not to expand Medicaid eligibility.
The working group that is studying whether Idaho should expand its Medicaid program holds its third — and perhaps final — meeting today. The group established by Governor Otter in July is charged with understanding the implications of expanding Medicaid eligibility to adults living at or below 138 percent of the poverty line.
The Medicaid expansion is a component of the Affordable Care Act. When the U.S. Supreme court upheld the law in June, it ruled that the federal government cannot require states to either expand their Medicaid programs or forfeit all federal Medicaid funding. That is: the court granted states a choice.
Department of Health and Welfare spokesman Tom Shanahan says that working group members have so far been receptive to the idea of allowing more Idahoans to be Medicaid-eligible, but it’s not yet clear what the group will recommend. “Several members have voiced support for expanding Medicaid, but the reasons have varied,” he explained. “We’ve heard strictly humanitarian reasons, and then we’ve heard it based on financial reasons.”
The working group will receive a key report this morning. Consulting group Milliman Associates will present its research on the costs and savings to the state if it pursues the expansion.
Currently, low-income adults who are not disabled or elderly qualify for Medicaid only if they have children, and if their income falls below 20 percent of the federal poverty guideline. For a family of four, in other words, the adults would only be eligible if their income totals $4,584 per year, or less.
The working group’s meeting begins at 9:00 AM at the State House. The day’s agenda is available here. Click here for Idaho Public Television’s live stream.
