Republican legislators endorse Medicaid expansion initiative
Several key Republican leaders of the Idaho Legislature, including Representative Marc Gibbs of Grace, announced they were endorsing the Medicaid Expansion initiative that goes to voters in November.
The initiative is aimed at providing health care to 62,000 Idahoans who fall into the state’s coverage gap.
Their endorsement comes after the release of the Milliman Inc. report last week. The report was commissioned by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. It found a significant cost-savings potential for taxpayers through Medicaid expansion.
Supporters said the initiative is gaining support among business leaders and conservative leaders because it would return nearly $400 million in federal taxes to Idaho annually.
“I am supporting the Medicaid expansion initiative because it is the fiscally responsible thing to do and it’s the humanitarian thing to do,” said Senator Shawn Keough, a Sandpoint Republican. “Currently, every Idahoan pays, one way or another, for the care of the uninsured through higher premiums, higher out-of-pocket costs, and higher property taxes. Furthermore, those caught in the gap are Idaho’s working poor and their healthcare is no less important as it is for rest of us. Access to timely healthcare can prevent escalation of a medical problem into a catastrophic or deadly issue. Medical care for our citizens should be top priority. It is simply the right thing to do.”
In addition to Keogh and Gibbs, endorsements were also announced by Senators Fred Wood and Fred Martin, Representatives Pat McDonald and Luke Malek.
The initiative has also been endorsed by a variety of organizations across the state including the Idaho Medical Association, Idaho Primary Care Association, Reclaim Idaho, United Way of Treasure Valley, American Academy of Emergency Physicians, Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, Idaho Voices for Children, the Consortium of Idahoans with Disabilities, the Idaho chapter of the American Academy of Emergency Physicians, the Idaho chapter of the American Cancer Society, the Idaho chapter of the American Heart Association, and the Idaho chapter of the American Lung Association.
