Latest news with #CarlBjerke
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What's next for Medicaid in Idaho? This bill is in Gov. Brad Little's hands
Idaho senators on Tuesday evening passed a bill to curtail the state's spending on its Medicaid expansion program, sending the bill on to Gov. Brad Little's desk to be signed into law. It was a sudden resolution to a monthslong effort by Republican lawmakers, who sponsored multiple bills this legislative session to slash the program's funding or even cut it entirely. The bill that won the day, House Bill 345, was an attempt to compromise on previous proposals. It includes removing a 'trigger' in a prior bill that would repeal the state's Medicaid expansion if it couldn't clear certain hurdles that critics called virtually insurmountable, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. The new bill also eliminates a cap on the number of people who can be enrolled in the program, and a limit on the number of months they can be enrolled over their lifetimes. A prior version sought to restrict it to three years. This bill 'is what I believe to be our balance,' said Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d'Alene. 'It's more than a balance. I think this is a great way for us to act.' Looking for other ways to save costs, bill cosponsor Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d'Alene, added new components to the bill, including 'managed care,' which provides a network of medical providers and oversight of health care providers to reduce costs. He also added a requirement for Medicaid expansion recipients to report their hours worked. Opponents of the bill raised concerns that those new components would add red tape, complexity and cost to the Medicaid expansion program. They said the work reporting requirement would be costly to administer, perhaps canceling out other savings the bill could offer. 'I am opposed to this bill because I do think it's going to increase costs,' Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, said Tuesday. During a previous public hearing for the bill, opponents highlighted its similarity to a law passed in other states, which proved expensive and, in some ways, ineffective. 'When Arkansas implemented their (work requirement), it cost them $26 million before the court said stop,' Rep. Ben Fuhriman, R-Shelley, said during the hearing. 'When Georgia implemented theirs, they've already spent $80 million.' Redman's proposed work requirement is very similar to that of Arkansas, said Hillarie Hagen, a health policy associate at Idaho Voices for Children, in her testimony against the bill. And in Arkansas, she warned, one in four people subject to the work requirement lost Medicaid expansion coverage — even though 95% of those recipients met program requirements or qualified for an exemption. Bjerke said he believes Idaho can 'avoid some of the pitfalls' Arkansas and Georgia experienced. The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, required states to expand Medicaid coverage to continue receiving federal funding. But the U.S. Supreme Court struck down that requirement in 2012, leaving it to states to decide whether to broaden the list of qualified recipients. The Republican-dominated Idaho Legislature chose not to expand offerings to lower-income residents in the so-called coverage gap — those who earned too much to qualify for standard Medicaid but not enough for private insurance discounts. About 90,000 Idaho residents fall into that gap, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Idaho residents brought forward a successful ballot measure to close that gap in 2018, and Medicaid expansion has been in place in Idaho since then, the Statesman previously reported. But the cost of the program is 'not sustainable,' Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, said on the House floor last month. Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, said in a January hearing that the state program's expected costs went way beyond what lawmakers expected: from $32 million in projected costs in 2018 to $110 million in fiscal year 2026. Redman has focused on a need to cut the state's spending on the program's 'skyrocketing' costs, he said at a public hearing. The federal government pays 90% of the costs of Idaho's Medicaid expansion. But GOP lawmakers in the state raised concerns that the Trump administration might lower the payment threshold as it targets federal spending, and Idaho taxpayers could be left holding the bag. Little in February expressed reservations about cuts to the Medicaid expansion program. The two-term Republican governor said he was 'all about cost control,' but also said it was important to remember that Medicaid expansion 'was passed overwhelmingly by the public' just over six years ago. 'We've seen this play out': New bill to curtail Idaho's Medicaid expansion moves forward Gov. Little shares 'concerns' over Republican-led push to end Idaho's Medicaid expansion 'One accident away from bankruptcy': Idaho House passes bill to gut Medicaid expansion
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Idaho Senate says health workers shouldn't have to violate religious beliefs to provide care
Idaho state Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d'Alene, (right) listens to proceedings during the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) The Idaho Senate voted along party lines Monday to pass a bill that prevents health care professionals and entities from being forced to participate in nonemergency procedures that would violate their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d'Alene, and Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, co-sponsored House Bill 59, which they named the Medical Ethics Defense Act. The bill states, in part: 'Health care providers shall have the right of conscience and, pursuant to this right, shall not be required to participate in or pay for a medical procedure, treatment, or service that violates such health care provider's conscience.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bjerke said the bill was patterned after a law passed during the 2024 legislative session, Senate Bill 1352, which states that counselors and therapists are not required to counsel clients in support of goals, outcomes or behaviors that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. Bjerke told senators Monday his new bill would apply many of the same principles from last year's counselors bill and apply it to health care professionals. 'This proposed legislation is intended to protect conscience rights of health care professionals and health care entities. It protects them from being forced to participate in non-emergency procedures that would violate their sincerely held religious moral or ethical beliefs,' Bjerke said. On the other hand, Sen. Ron Taylor, D-Hailey, said the bill fundamentally confuses the relationship between personal conscience and professional duty. 'This bill, in its current form, I believe, would transform Idaho's health care system from one based on patient needs to one based more on provider preferences,' Taylor said. 'It would allow any health care provider, any worker, any ambulance operator, hospital employee or health care payer, the ability to deny anyone medical care based on claiming an objection due to their conscience.' CONTACT US If passed into law, Taylor worried the bill would allow ambulance drivers to object to transporting a patient if the patient did something to offend them, or a hospital staffer could refuse to admit a pregnant woman suffering a miscarriage if the staffer opposed abortion, or a pharmacist could refuse to prescribe vaccines or antidepressants if it violated their personal beliefs. In the end, the Senate voted 28-6 to pass the bill. All Senate Republicans voted in favor of it, while all six Senate Democrats voted against it. The Idaho House of Representatives already voted 58-11 to pass the bill Feb. 11, but since then the Idaho Senate amended the bill. House Bill 59 now heads back to the Idaho House for House members to consider whether to agree with the Senate amendment. If the Idaho House agrees with the amendment, the bill would be sent to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration. If the bill reaches Little's desk, he could sign it into law, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. If the bill is passed into law, it would take effect immediately upon being signed into law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Idaho Senate approves ABLE accounts bill by wide margin
Members of the Idaho Senate listen to proceedings on the Senate floor on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) This story was first published by Idaho Reports on March 5, 2025. The Idaho Senate approved on Wednesday a bill to allow Idahoans with disabilities to save money for additional expenses, without the threat of losing coverage, sending it to the governor's desk for consideration. House Bill 26 passed the Senate in a 27-6 vote. ABLE accounts — an acronym for Achieving a Better Life Experience – allow people with disabilities who collect Social Security Income to save money for future qualifying needs, such as transportation, housing, or medical expenses. Without ABLE accounts, people with disabilities risk no longer qualifying for Social Security Income if they have more than $2,000 in their bank accounts, which discourages them from saving for expenses like car repairs, or medical care that isn't covered by insurance. The money in ABLE accounts doesn't count against the $2,000. Only people whose disability began before the age of 26 are eligible for ABLE accounts. Idaho Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d'Alene, said this opens doors for people with disabilities, offering the example of a person who uses a wheelchair being unable to fix a broken wheelchair-accessible vehicle for work because they have no savings. 'It provides greater independence,' said Bjerke. Idaho is one of only three states in the country that does not yet have ABLE accounts. There is no cost to the state, because the new accounts are set up through a national consortium. The bill also establishes an advisory council for the Treasurer's Office, but at no additional cost. The bill now heads to the governor's office for consideration. He can either sign it, allow it to become law without his signature or veto it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee advances bill with changes to EMS operations
Idaho state Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d'Alene, (right) listens to proceedings during the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) This story was first published by Idaho Reports on March 3, 2025. Major changes could be coming to emergency medical services in Idaho as the Senate State Affairs Committee advanced a bill that transfers EMS Bureau's responsibilities to the Idaho Military Division. Idaho has never declared EMS an essential service, such as police and fire. As a result, the state is not required to fund it. For decades, EMS has struggled to find funding, and many agencies rely heavily on volunteers and donations. This bill moves the Emergency Medical Services Bureau from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and relocates it into the Idaho Military Division. The Military Division already coordinates emergency management with state and local government through the Office of Emergency Management. The bill still does not deem EMS essential, but calls it 'critical to the life, health, and safety of Idahoans.' House Bill 206, sponsored by Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d'Alene, heads to the Senate after it passed the House of Representatives 53-15 last week. Last year's to bill to fund EMS services, declaring it an essential service, failed to make it out of committee. Local counties and cities would still have control over their own EMS programs and dispatching 911 calls. Idaho has 196 cities and 88% of the state is rural, Bjerke said. EMS availability varies widely county by county, and many counties do not have ambulance taxing districts to fund the service in the state. 'It's time for us to decide how we're going to structure EMS in the state,' Bjerke argued. In 2021, the Office of Performance Evaluations published a report on emergency medical services in rural Idaho, highlighting funding and staffing challenges as well as pointing out that about 7 out of 10 emergency medical workers are volunteers. Should the bill pass, it would also ask for a shift of funding and $150,000 one-time Emergency Medical Services dedicated fund spending authority to cover the cost of transition expenses, $60,000 to contract with a physician to serve as a part-time state EMS medical director to replace the Idaho Emergency Medical Services Physician Commission. Overall, the state would still not declare that emergency medical services are essential, but the bill may put agencies in a better position to work together. The bill would not provide new funding for individual agencies. Kelli Brassfield, policy adviser for the Idaho Association of Counties, testified in support of the bill, saying the majority of counties are supportive. There was no opposition to the bill in the Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday. The bill must pass the Senate before heading to Gov. Brad Little for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
