Latest news with #Idahoans
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Federal judge extends block on Idaho gender-affirming care ban in prisons
Protestors on April 2, 2024, dropped 48,000 handmade hearts — meant to represent LGBTQ Idahoans, in protest of anti-LGBTQ legislation — down the rotunda of the Idaho State Capitol Building. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun) A federal judge extended a temporary legal block, preventing Idaho from enforcing a new law that would block people in prisons from accessing state-funded gender-affirming health care. Judge David Nye last week extended a preliminary injunction blocking Idaho from enforcing the 2024 state law for all people in Idaho prisons diagnosed with gender dysphoria and receiving hormone therapy. The Idaho Legislature in 2024 passed the law through House Bill 668. Nye has blocked the law from being enforced against people in Idaho prisons in response to a lawsuit brought by ACLU of Idaho. Around 60 to 70 patients in Idaho Department of Correction custody have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to documents released in the lawsuit last year. Idaho's law 'clearly violates Idahoans' Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment by denying access to standard, life-saving health care,' ACLU of Idaho Legal Director Paul Southwick told the Idaho Capital Sun in a statement. 'Everyone deserves bodily autonomy and access to necessary medical care, regardless of their gender or incarceration status.' The judicial blocks only last 90 days under limits by federal law. Boise State Public Radio first reported on the extended legal block. The Idaho Attorney General's Office could not be immediately reached for comment. Separately, a federal judge recently blocked federal prisons from enforcing an executive order by President Donald Trump that would've blocked gender-affirming care for people incarcerated in federal prison who have gender dysphoria, Bloomberg Law reported. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Robison et al. v. Labrador prelminary injunction ruling 6-2-25
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
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Idaho Medicaid to be privately managed in 2029, health officials officials expect
The state flags hangs from the rotunda of the Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise on Jan. 7, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho health officials say it'll take years to switch all Idaho Medicaid benefits to being managed by private companies. Through a sweeping bill meant to cut Medicaid costs, the Idaho Legislature this year directed the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to change a range of Medicaid policies — including to pursue switching Medicaid benefits to being run by private companies. That model, called managed care, is used widely across the country. Right now, Idaho Medicaid already uses managed care — somewhat. But it's more of a patchwork approach, where some services are managed by the state health department, some by managed care organizations, and some by doctors' offices. Shifting Idaho Medicaid to managed care will take time to do well, Idaho Medicaid Deputy Director Juliet Charron told a panel of state lawmakers late last month. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare expects the new comprehensive Idaho Medicaid managed care contract to start in 2029, following years of prep work, she told the Idaho Legislature's Medicaid Review Panel on May 22. 'We have been evaluating all of the different scenarios and timelines under which we could implement this — looking at it as early as 2027 or 2028 — and have determined' that going much earlier is risky, Charron said. 'Because you're going to start to have pieces overlapping throughout this. And that will be particularly challenging for our provider communities.' Medicaid is a largely federally funded health care assistance program that covers about 260,000 Idahoans, including low-income earners, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and some older people. Roughly 92,000 Idahoans are enrolled in Medicaid expansion, a voter-approved policy that raised the income eligibility cap. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Idaho governor signs bill to privatize management, add work requirements to Medicaid program The new Idaho Medicaid cost cutting bill also called for Idaho to seek federal approval for Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare plans to apply for that by July 2026. The federal spending and tax cut bill being considered by Congress might ease the process for Idaho to seek Medicaid work requirements. Instead of applying for a Medicaid waiver that could temporarily allow for work requirements, Idaho could seek a longer-lasting state plan amendment for Medicaid work requirements — if the federal bill becomes law, Charron said. (The bill would require nationwide Medicaid work requirements years later. After passing the U.S. House, it heads to the Senate, where changes are expected.) Other states' experiences and a federal watchdog report suggest costs for Medicaid work requirements are high, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Since almost half of Idahoans on Medicaid are already working, some advocates say work requirements are effectively just expensive administrative barriers to access the program. Overall, only 6% of Idaho Medicaid enrollees are in comprehensive managed care — the roughly 27,000 Idahoans dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, Idaho Idaho Medicaid Deputy Administrator Sasha O'Connell told the legislative panel. CONTACT US Idaho's existing Medicaid managed care contracts mostly carve out private management for certain benefits, like mental health, medical transportation and dental. That split makes it complicated for the state to oversee, O'Connell said. 'What this has led to is we have particularly high turnover, I would say, in state agencies. And I think that that happens in Medicaid as well,' she said. The various contracts have put Idaho Medicaid's limited staff in a cycle of 'amending these contracts constantly,' she said, instead of putting the contracts up for a new competitive bid, a process called procurement. 'Because procurement is such a huge lift,' O'Connell said. Idaho is also on track to end doctors' offices managing Medicaid benefits next year, Charron told lawmakers. The new Idaho Medicaid cost cutting bill called for the end of that model, called value-based care, which is unique to Idaho and has existed for a few years. The new Idaho Medicaid managed care contract is likely to become the biggest contract given out by the state of Idaho. Idaho's contract for the company Magellan to run mental health Medicaid benefits is already the state's largest contract, initially pegged at $1.4 billion over four years. Like under Idaho Medicaid's first managed care mental health organization, Idaho Medicaid providers have reported payment delays from Magellan, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. Sen. Kevin Cook, R-Idaho Falls, raised that issue to Idaho health officials. 'You're saying, I'm getting reports back from the (managed care organization), and they're saying, 'Everything is great. All of our providers are happy. They're loving it,'' Cook said. ''That's like asking the fox, … 'How's the hen house?'' Idaho's existing managed care contracts will be phased out for the broader contract to come. Idaho Medicaid mental health contractor hires three state government employees 'Idaho is a very large state. But our health care infrastructure is somewhat limited. And people access health care all over the state. Frequently, we are sending Medicaid participants to different parts of the state, based on the service that they need,' Charron said. The new contract will task three different managed care organizations to run Idaho Medicaid benefits, for a few reasons, she explained, like: Federal requirements for Medicaid enrollees to have choice under managed care; Creating competition between companies to drive efficiencies; and Redundancy, in case a plan terminates. Before Idaho launches the new managed care contract, Idaho has a lot of preparation to do, state health officials say. Like engaging stakeholders, seeking out more information and contracting out for actuarial services, a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), a new enrollment broker for Medicaid enrollees to pick managed care plans, and Idaho Medicaid's information system. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Are you dually enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare? Here's what to know on Idaho switching contractors
Only 2,000 Idahoans dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid chose a specific insurance plan so far. But there's 90 days to decide. (Getty Images) Idaho is switching contractors that run health insurance plans for vulnerable patients. Starting June 1, the private health insurance companies running Idaho Medicaid and Medicare's plans will change to Molina Healthcare and UnitedHealthcare. That will only apply to the about 27,000 Idahoans who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, said Idaho Department of Health and Welfare spokesperson AJ McWhorter. Over half of them were already enrolled in an insurance plan run by a private company, called managed care. People dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid qualify for disabilities, low income and age. Many patients have already been automatically enrolled in one of the new duals insurance plans. But patients will have 90 days, or until Aug. 30, to pick, McWhorter told the Sun in an email. Only 2,000 people chose a specific insurance plan so far, after Health and Welfare sent out letters in March, he said on May 22. 'Many people haven't chosen a new plan because they like the plan they will be enrolled in if they do not make a selection. But we want to be sure that everyone who wants to make an active choice does so,' he said. Idaho's dual Medicaid and Medicare offers two types of plans. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX For people dually eligible, Medicaid generally covers costs not fully covered by Medicare, such as for nursing homes and home and community-based services, according to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Both of the new Idaho companies, Molina and United, will be required to honor existing patient authorizations for the first 90 days of the contract, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says. Health and Welfare is winding down readiness reviews of the new companies and hasn't spotted any concerning issues, Idaho Medicaid Deputy Director Juliet Charron told the Idaho Capital Sun in a May 19 interview. 'Could there be bumps in the road? Of course,' she said. But that's why she said Idaho officials are communicating proactively. People who have questions or concerns should reach out to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, or United or Molina, she said. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has resources about the contract change available online on a frequently asked questions webpage. Patients can also contact Health and Welfare, or the new insurance companies. Here's how: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare: Website: Email: IdahoDuals@ Phone: 833-814-8568 UnitedHealthcare Website: Phone: 866-785-1628 for Medicaid participants, or 855-819-5909 for providers Molina Healthcare of Idaho: Website: Phone: 866-403-8293 for Medicaid participants, or 844-239-4914 for providers The health insurer Blue Cross of Idaho previously ran Idaho's dual Medicaid and Medicare plans. Last year, Idaho went out for a competitive bid for the contract for the first time. Initially, there was a six-month gap starting this June when Blue Cross's contract ended and United would've started, Idaho Reports reported in January. But since then, Health and Welfare has worked with the new insurance companies to start June 1. One United plan is available starting Jan. 1, 2026. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How Boise area's health care landscape has changed in recent months
Stories by Idaho Statesman journalists, with AI summarization Boise's health care landscape has shifted quickly in recent months. Lawmakers passed new rules, like House Bill 345, which adds work requirements for Medicaid expansion recipients and seeks to control costs through a network of providers on fixed budgets. Another bill would give medical workers the right to refuse non-emergency services, such as vaccines, due to moral or religious beliefs, raising concerns about access in rural communities. Lawmakers want to let doctors bow out of procedures that violate their beliefs. Former St. Luke's head says the bill 'misrepresents' medical ethics. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler 'We want Idahoans to become as self-sufficient as possible,' Little said. | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler Several doctors opposed to the vaccine presented at the meeting. | Published October 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Angela Palermo The former director of trauma care at Saint Alphonsus is suing the Boise hospital. This is why, and what Saint Alphonsus says about it. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Angela Palermo Here's how the seven board members voted regarding the health district that serves four counties. | Published May 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Angela Palermo The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shelley to serve as Idaho's ‘Capital for a Day' with Gov. Little, state officials
Idahoans make their way to committee hearing rooms at the Idaho State Capitol building on Jan. 23, 2024. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun) The southeastern Idaho city of Shelley will serve as the host of Idaho's next 'Capital for a Day' event on Wednesday. Capital for a Day events feature Gov. Brad Little and many of the state's agency directors traveling to smaller communities throughout Idaho. During the events, the governor and agency heads discuss state issues and programs and conduct an open forum for local residents to ask questions or make suggestions. 'Capital for a Day is a great opportunity for myself and my administration to hear from Idahoans about the needs of their community,' Little said in a written statement. 'I look forward to sharing this tradition with the good people of Bingham County and learn how we can better serve them.' Little's predecessor, former Gov. Butch Otter, also conducted regular Capital for a Day events around the state during his three terms in office. When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 28 Where: Heart 2 Hand Bingham Food Pantry, at 190 S. Holmes Ave. in Shelley Officials set to join Little at the Jerome event include: Idaho Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke Idaho State Department of Agriculture Director Chanel Tewalt Idaho Department of Water Resources Director Mat Weaver Idaho Office of Energy and Mineral Resources Administrator Cally Younger Department of Parks and Recreation Director Susan Buxton Division of Financial Management Administrator Lori Wolff Idaho Transportation Department Director Scott Stokes Idaho State Board of Education Executive Director Jenn White Department of Lands Deputy Director Michele Anderson Department of Health and Welfare Deputy Director Monty Prow Department of Environmental Quality Regional Administration Katy Bergholm Idaho State Police Capt. Chris Weadick SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
