Emilie Ritter Saunders / StateImpact

The governor's panel on Medicaid expansion met for the first time back in August.

Between 97,000 and 111,000 additional Idahoans would be eligible for Medicaid if the state chooses to expand eligibility.  But where would those people come from?  Close to half would migrate from four other state programs already in place to help low-income residents with medical needs.

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter must decide if Idaho will expand its Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act.  A workgroup he assembled has been weighing the state’s options, and met for a second time Thursday in Boise.

If the state expands eligibility, about 35,000 people would migrate to Medicaid from community health centers.  Another 6,000 would come from Idaho’s Catastrophic Health Program. Continue Reading →