Senate amends Idaho bill to add Medicaid work requirements

The Senate has approved amendments to legislation involving Idaho’s voter-approved Medicaid expansion law that adds mandatory work requirements.

The Senate on Monday debated nine amendments to a bill originating in the Senate before finishing with a bill that’s similar to a House bill a Senate committee killed last week.

The Senate has already passed an appropriations bill paying for Medicaid expansion as approved by voters with no work requirements. Gov. Brad Little has included money for the expansion in his budget.

But the House has refused to vote on the appropriations bill as a majority of representatives there appear to want work requirements.

The amendments to the Senate bill are an attempt to get a bill that can be approved by the House and get Gov. Brad Little’s signature.

The Senate will next have to vote on whether to approve the amended bill in its entirety before it goes to the House.