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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
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
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ID governor joins letter to Trump supporting bill that cuts billions from Medicaid, food assistance
Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives a press conference after delivering his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, in the Lincoln Auditorium in the Idaho Capitol. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho Gov. Brad Little is among 20 Republican governors who have sent a letter to President Donald Trump expressing support for his 'big, beautiful' tax and spending bill that's been held up as U.S. House Republicans continue to fight over it. 'As Republican Governors, we stand UNITED in strong support of your One, Big, Beautiful Bill,' the governors wrote in the letter dated Tuesday. 'This landmark piece of legislation embodies your powerful vision to bring about the next great American revival.' They added that the bill 'truly delivers on the bold promises all Republicans made to the American people to restore the security, prosperity, and fiscal sanity for our nation.' CBO analysis shows U.S. House GOP budget measure tilted toward upper-income taxpayers The massive, 1,116-page bill package includes sweeping tax breaks and controversial cuts of more than $600 billion over the next decade from Medicaid, the government health program for low-income individuals and those with disabilities. However, negotiations continue over the bill and it's not yet clear whether it has the support it needs from the U.S. House Republicans' slim majority. Earlier Tuesday, Republicans who have yet to rally behind the bill huddled in Speaker Mike Johnson's office to hash out agreements on Medicaid and other outstanding issues. Johnson said he hopes to pass the legislation this week, though he didn't appear to have the votes as of Tuesday afternoon. Even as the bill remains snagged, Republican governors signaled to the president that he has their support, writing 'after four long years of tremendous hardship under President Joe Biden and (Vice President) Kamala Harris, the American people cannot wait any longer for Congress to enact the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.' 'The American people have witnessed the tireless work undertaken by you and your administration to reverse the disastrous consequences of President Biden's failed and often illegal policies,' the governors' letter says. 'You have demonstrated a commitment to using every ounce of Executive authority available to reinstitute fiscal sanity, fight the deep state, secure our borders, and achieve energy dominance.' Little and other governors also called on Congress to act to 'fully and permanently implement' Trump's 'America First agenda.' 'Thankfully, your One, Big, Beautiful Bill would accomplish this,' their letter continues. 'It would provide you with the resources you need to permanently secure the border, remove barriers needed to truly unleash American energy production, protect Americans by making a once-in-a-lifetime investment in military technology that once seemed like science fiction, give working class families tax cuts worth thousands of dollars each, and ensure your administration has the tools needed to deport illegal alien murders (sic) and rapists.' They concluded their letter saying they agree that Republicans must 'UNIFY around this unprecedented piece of conservative legislation.' They added that 'we cannot miss this chance to save taxpayers $1.6 trillion over the next 10 years.' 'We stand by your side and will support you in any way to ensure this necessary piece of legislation is enacted,' the governors wrote. The 20 governors who signed the letter include: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Idaho Gov. Brad Little Indiana Gov. Mike Braun Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong South Carolina Gov. Henry Dargan McMaster Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon Read the letter here: FINAL-Joint-Governors-Letter-to-President-Trump-on-One-Big-Beautiful-Bill-May-2025-1 Utah News Dispatch, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Idaho's children deserve better from our Legislature
The Idaho State Capitol Building in Boise shines in the sunlight on Jan. 7, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) The 2025 Idaho legislative session may be over, but its impact on our children will last far longer — and not for the better. As the session dragged past its intended adjournment, one thing became painfully clear: Idaho's children were not a priority. Legislators found time to debate flags and push culture war bills into classrooms, but when it came to supporting our youngest citizens — those who will one day inherit this state — they failed. School buildings continue to crumble, special education remains underfunded, and child care providers are forced to operate under weaker safety standards due to legislative rollbacks. Meanwhile, children from undocumented families were denied food assistance, school lunches, and even health care through Medicaid — all because of their parents' immigration status. These policies don't just hurt children — they compromise the future of Idaho. Instead of focusing on real issues, our lawmakers catered to special interests and pushed another round of income tax cuts — our fifth in four years. It's true that everyone likes tax cuts. But we must ask: at what cost? Since 2022, these income tax cuts have drained nearly $1.9 billion from Idaho's budget, with another $948 million lost annually moving forward. That's $2.8 billion in permanent revenue gone by the end of 2025—funds that could have been invested in updating schools, expanding health care, and keeping property taxes in check. This year alone, the Legislature cut $87 million from public education, let a $205 working families tax credit expire, and slashed $15 million from affordable housing while passing yet another tax cut that disproportionately benefits the wealthiest Idahoans. The numbers don't lie: Idaho's wealthiest 1% received an average tax break of over $15,000. The average Idaho family? Just $337. And now, with the expiration of the Child Tax Credit, most families will actually see a tax increase. This is not responsible governance, it's a reckless redistribution of resources upward, leaving working families to bear the burden. At Idaho Children Are Primary, we believe lawmakers should be judged on a simple question: Is this good for kids? That's why we publish our Kids Matter Index (KMI), a non-partisan scorecard tracking legislators' votes on bills affecting children — from school funding and day care licensing to Medicaid and public assistance. This year's results are sobering. Only 25% of legislators scored 80% or higher — a strong pro-child record. That's down from 30% last year and 40% the year before. Meanwhile, 65% of lawmakers scored below 69%. The trend is unmistakable: Idaho's Legislature is prioritizing children less and less each year. And those who did stand up for children? Many were punished at the ballot box. In the 2024 primaries, several legislators with strong KMI scores were replaced by candidates backed by out-of-state money and extreme ideologies. This should alarm every Idahoan. Our children's futures are being shaped not just by what laws pass—but by who we elect to make those laws. So what can we do? First, hold your legislators accountable. Ask them how they voted. Ask why. If their priorities don't align with your values, let them know — and vote accordingly. You can find your legislator at the Idaho State Legislature's 'Who's My Legislator?' tool. Second, engage with your community. Talk to neighbors, attend town halls, and show up to school board meetings. Real change starts locally. Third, pay close attention to the 2026 May primary election. That's when many key decisions are made — often by just a few hundred votes. Use tools like the Kids Matter Index to learn how your lawmakers vote, not just what they say. Idaho's constitution is clear: 'All political power is inherent in the people.' If our representatives won't prioritize kids, it's time we elect ones who will. Idaho's children deserve better. Our families deserve better. And Idaho's future depends on the choices we make today. Let's ensure our lawmakers choose our children — by choosing our lawmakers wisely. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
More pieces of legislation were prepared for Idaho's 2025 session than in the last 30 years
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Members of the Idaho Senate work from the Senate floor on the morning of March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) It has been at least 30 years since an Idaho legislative session has featured as many prepared pieces of legislation as the recent 2025 session at the State Capitol in Boise. During the entire 2025 session, legislators and bill drafters prepared 1,378 pieces of legislation, according to the official Sine Die report compiled and published by the Idaho Legislative Services Office. That's 140 more pieces of legislation than during the previous year's legislative session. Idaho legislators had so many pieces of legislation prepared – including draft bills, memorials, resolutions and proclamations – that it is difficult to find online records of another session that featured more pieces of legislation. According to an Idaho Capital Sun review of online legislative records and previous Sine Die reports that tracked the volume of legislation dating as far back as 1994, the 2025 session is the only time that more than 1,300 different pieces of legislation have been prepared in Idaho. The 1994 session came close, with 1,265 pieces of prepared legislation, according to a table embedded in the 2003 Sine Die report. Online legislative records only date back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, so documenting and comparing legislative trends prior to that time period becomes more difficult. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Model legislation makes its way into Idaho At any rate, the increase in legislation this session was so pronounced the House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, noticed it stood out before the session ended for the year April 4. Idaho House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, speaks from the House floor on March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) In an interview with the Sun in March, Rubel blamed some of the increase in the amount of legislation on an influx of out-of-state model legislation. Model legislation, or form legislation, is where an organization or advocacy group writes a bill template that can be easily introduced in different states simply by making a few minor wording changes or localizing a bill, the Sun previously reported. 'A lot of this is being driven, frankly, by these out-of-state bill mills,' Rubel told the Sun in March. Examples of form legislation that has appeared in Idaho and multiple states include bills restricting transgender athletes from participating in women's sports and the Texas-style immigration bill allowing local law enforcement officials to check the immigration status of people being investigated for a crime. From the 1,378 proposed pieces of legislation that were prepared for legislative committees and legislators, 790 bills, proclamations, resolutions or memorials were officially introduced in 2025, Idaho Legislative Services Office staffers wrote in the Sine Die report. In the end, 341 of those bills became law this year, and most will take effect July 1. Idaho legislative sessions, by the numbers Here is a closer look at the 2025 Idaho Legislative session, and how it compares to other recent sessions. Length of session 2025: 89 days 2024: 94 days 2023: 88 days 2022: 81 days 2021: 311 days, longest legislative session in Idaho history 2020: 75 days Number of pieces of legislation prepared for legislators or committees 2025: 1,378 2024: 1,234 2023: 1,155 2022: 1,046 2021: 1,226 2020: 1,,053 Source: 2025 Idaho Sine Die report Idaho Sine Die report SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Early voting in Idaho's May 20 election begins today
Bonneville County residents fill out their ballots during the May 21, 2024, primary election at The Waterfront Event Center in Idaho Falls. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Monday, May 5 is the day that early voting begins for Idaho's May 20 election in the counties that conduct early voting. Early voting ends on Friday, May 16. For instance, voters in Ada County can take advantage of early voting on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting today through May 16 at the following sites: Ada County Elections (Mobile Voting Unit) Boise City Hall Eagle Public Library Garden City City Hall Library! At Bown Crossing Meridian City Hall Star City Hall Voters in other Idaho counties can log on to their county's elections website or call the elections office to see if early voting is offered in their area. For example, early voting is available in Bannock, Bonneville, Canyon, Gem, Nez Perce and Twin Falls counties, among others. Eligible voters may vote at any of the early voting locations. Anyone who is not registered to vote may register and vote at any of the locations by bringing a photo ID and proof of residence. Ada County Elections will also utilize its Mobile Voting Unit during early voting at the Ada County Election Headquarters only, according to an Ada County Elections Office press release. If you are voting via absentee ballot in Ada County, you can drop off your completed ballot in one of the open absentee drop-off boxes. You can find drop boxes at Ada County Elections, Meridian City Hall, Boise City Hall, Kuna City Hall, Star City Hall and Eagle City Hall, according to the press release. Ballots across Idaho will vary for this election, depending on your address and taxing districts. Voters may see candidates for water, sewer, auditorium and highway districts, as well ballot measures such as supplemental levies for school districts on their May 20 ballot. To learn more about the May 20 election and to preview your ballot in Ada County, visit All Idaho voters can also go to the Secretary of State's website and enter their home address to view their sample ballot or find their polling location. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
