Senate sends Idaho Medicaid expansion bill to governor
UPDATE 4:10 p.m. The Senate has approved Medicaid expansion legislation that removes able-bodied recipients from coverage if they fail to meet work requirements.
The Senate voted 19-16 Friday on the legislation that’s a compromise bill now headed to Republican Gov. Brad Little for his consideration.
The bill was amended in the House to remove able-bodied people who didn’t meet work requirements. The previous Senate version allowed those people to retain Medicaid coverage but required a copay to receive medical care.
Voters authorized Medicaid expansion with an initiative in November that passed with 61% after years of inaction by the Legislature.
The expansion will provide access to preventative health care services for an estimated 91,000 low-income residents. The federal government would cover 90% of the estimated $400 million cost.
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UPDATE 2:45 p.m.The Senate has voted to agree with amendments the House added to Idaho Medicaid expansion legislation.
The Senate voted 20-13 Friday to concur, discarding a recommendation from the Senate Health and Welfare Committee from earlier in the day to not concur.
The vote means the Senate will next debate the bill in its entirety. It’s not clear when that will happen.
The bill is a compromise as the two chambers try to cobble together legislation that can win the approval of Republican Gov. Brad Little.
The big change to the bill the House made is kicking able-bodied people off Medicaid for failing to meet work requirements. The Senate version allowed those people to retain Medicaid coverage but required a copay to receive medical care.
Voters authorized Medicaid expansion with an initiative in November that passed with 61% after years of inaction by the Legislature.
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ORIGINAL:
A Senate panel has declined to agree with the House on amendments added to Idaho Medicaid expansion legislation.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Friday voted 5-4 not to concur with the changes.
The vote is a recommendation to the full Senate about the House amendments as the two chambers try to reach a compromise that can win the approval of Republican Gov. Brad Little.
The full Senate does not need to follow the committee’s recommendation. It’s not clear when the Senate will vote on the bill.
The big change to the bill the House made is kicking able-bodied people off Medicaid for failing to meet work requirements. The Senate version allowed those people to retain Medicaid coverage but required a copay to receive medical care.
Voters authorized Medicaid expansion with an initiative in November that passed with 61% after years of inaction by the Legislature.
