The Senate adjourned sine die on Thursday evening and the House adjourned on Friday at 12:10 p.m. ending the legislative session. This week’s update delivers a summary of the public health issues discussed during the week. Keep an eye out for a special end of session wrap up next week.
Public Health Districts Appropriations
On Tuesday, House Bill No. 549 was reported delivered to the Governor. The legislation is the fiscal year 2017 appropriation for the Idaho Public Health Districts and provides for $9,289,500 to be transferred from the General Fund to the Public Health Trust Fund. House Bill No. 549 full bill text can be found here.
Assisted Living Legislation
Senate Bill No. 1341 was reported delivered to the Governor on Tuesday. The purpose of the bill is to assure that all Residential or Assisted Living Facilities are only cited for violations that are specified in an applicable law or rule. The bill will help with challenges associated with interpretation of regulations. This legislation is recent progress of the Idaho Alzheimer’s Planning Group’s objective to create a more conducive regulatory environment for Assisted Living Facilities so that Idahoans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias can access these facilities. SB 1341 full bill text can be found here.
Right to Try Act
House Bill No. 481 was signed into law on Wednesday. The purpose of this legislation is to allow patients with a terminal diagnosis the right to try an investigation drug that has completed basic safety testing through the FDA, thereby dramatically reducing paperwork, wait times, bureaucracy, and most important, potentially saving lives. This legislation releases liability from physicians, hospitals, insurers, and any other person and clears the way for patients to work with manufacturers under the recommendation of a physician to try an investigational medication. Patients will accept full responsibility, including financial responsibility, for their decisions to try to save their own lives. HB 481 full bill text can be found here.
Unborn Infants Dignity Act
Democratic members of the House State Affairs Committee boycotted Thursday morning’s meeting. Senate Bill No. 1404a was on the agenda. The legislation, called “Idaho Unborn Infants Dignity Act” seeks to “protect the dignity of preborn children to abortion by making illegal to harvest their organs and tissue for any purpose, including experimentation.” The bill was reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, passed the floor of the House, and was reported as enrolled and signed by President. SB 1404a full bill text can be foundhere.
Health and Welfare Public Health Services Appropriations
House Bill No. 566 was reported delivered to the Governor on Thursday. The legislation is the fiscal year 2017 appropriation to the Department of Health and Welfare for the Division of Public Health Services. It includes $7,771,900 from the General Fund, $41,993,400 from dedicated funds, and $63,285,100 from federal funds for a total of $113,050,400 and 233.34 FTP. The bill also includes three sections of legislative intent language that are incorporated department wide and two sections specific to the division.
Biosimilar legislation signed into law
On Thursday, Governor Otter signed a bill that would require pharmacists to notify physicians when they change out prescribed medication for a biosimilar medication. HB 483 full bill text can be found here.
Medicaid redesign
There was a lot of excitement this week surrounding the “gap population”. Although discussion on a bill was promised for Monday, as stated in last week’s update, the print hearing was cancelled.
Lawmakers quiet on status of health care bill, leaving opponents to make noise – Idaho Statesman
On Tuesday, there was no word on a possible new bill and about 85 Close the Gap supporters rallied at the Capitol. They held signs comprising of slogans such as, “Close the Gap, 78,000 can’t wait” and “Save Idaho Lives.” The House Health & Welfare Committee posted an amended agenda for an 8:30 a.m. meeting on Wednesday, with two agenda items: RS24759C2 Health Care Study Committee - Rep. Lynn Luker RS24760C3 Health Care Grant Program - Rep. Lynn Luker. The Close the Gap network released an email stating,
We just received depressing news: The House of Representatives will NOT be moving forward with the Idaho Accountability Waiver Act – the bill that would have closed the coverage gap. Instead, the PCAP lite ($5 million one-time token to health centers) and interim committee bills are scheduled for print hearings tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. These bills will not close the coverage gap and would merely kick the can down the road. They are a waste of time, money, and lives. The network needs to ensure that legislators know we do not support these bills; we want a full solution to the coverage gap this session. The legislature just let 78,000 Idahoans down and need to be held accountable.
On Wednesday morning the Committee voted 8-3 in favor of legislation to create a study committee to research health coverage and a possible waiver for the state’s gap population and a bill to give a $5.4 million grant next year, plus another $5 million the following year, to community health clinics in Idaho to gather data on the gap population and provide additional services to the population. Legislators opposing the bills stated that it was not a viable solution. Representative John Rusche (D-Lewiston) said, “I don’t think that anybody should be deceiving themselves that we’re really doing something to provide health coverage for the low income.” Later that day, the House passed the gap coverage study committee legislation after a tense debate. House Concurrent Resolution 63 full text can be found here. This concurrent resolution would establish a legislative interim committee to study and make recommendations regarding health care for the gap population (persons under 100% of the federal poverty guidelines).
House passes gap coverage study committee 39-30 after tense debate – The Spokesman Review
The House also passed the ‘gap’ grant bill. This proposal establishes a two-year cooperative grant program through the Department of Health and Welfare to the Community Health Center Network of Idaho. The purpose of the grant program is 1) to collect demographic and health data on the Idaho gap population (persons under 100% of the federal poverty guidelines), and 2) to provide outreach to and augmentation of primary health care services to the gap population provided through federally qualified health centers throughout the state. House Bill No. 644 full bill text can be found here.
House passes gap coverage study committee 39-30 after tense debate – The Spokesman Review
Following the passing of the two bills, Close the Gap sent out an email update with their stance,
This morning, the House Health & Welfare Committee passed two bills, HB 644and HCR 63, and sent them directly to the House floor without accepting public testimony. HB 644 creates a one-time $5.4 million grant to community health centers to study the gap population and provide services, and HCR 63 creates an interim committee to study and make recommendations for the “gap population.” Read more about today’s events here and here. Neither of these bills close the coverage gap. Instead, they merely postpone a full solution for another year. Idaho families will continue to be left out of our health care system; 78,000 will continue to struggle with medical costs, bankruptcies, poor health, and preventable tragedies. It is extremely disappointing that the alternative waiver proposal was ignored by leadership and not allowed a hearing today.
On Thursday morning the Senate Health & Welfare Committee voted unanimously to kill HCR 63. The Senators expressed that the resolution contained statements that they disagreed with and it would delay any coverage for the gap population until 2018. Additionally, the Committee sent House Bill No. 644 to 14th Order for amendments. Senator Marv Hagerdorn (R-Meridian) proposed amendments that would add language to seek a waiver to expand Idaho’s Medicaid program to provide a managed-care option to serve those who make less than 100% of the poverty level. The amendments can be found here. Later in the morning the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted 13-6 to approve $5.4 million in funding next year as a trailer bill for HB 644. Full text of the funding bill can be found here. Thursday afternoon the Senate voted 27-8 in favor of HB 644. The amended bill then went back to the House for possible concurrence in the Senate amendments. After a bill-signing ceremony on Thursday, Governor Butch Otter expressed his support for beginning the Medicaid expansion waiver application process as soon as possible.
Senate Health & Welfare kills interim study committee on ‘gap’ waiver – The Spokesman Review
Senate H&W sends HB 644 to 14th Order for amendments – The Spokesman Review
Senate debate: ‘Another year is a long time to wait to do the right thing’ – The Spokesman Review
Senate approves gap coverage waiver bill, 27-8 – The Spokesman Review
Legislature Down to the Wire on Medicaid Plan – Times-News
Three GOP members of the House Health & Welfare Committee submitted formal letters committing to vote against any legislation that comes before the committee next year until a waiver program to cover the gap population is presented and voted on in the full House.
Five House GOP reps pledge not to vote for any bills next year ‘til Medicaid waiver – The Spokesman Review
One Friday morning the House voted 55-12 to not concur in the Senate amendment to HB 644, thus killing the health care legislation. After the vote, House Speaker Scott Bedke (R-Oakley) announced the he will appoint a bipartisan working group to start meeting this spring to find “a solution for the gap population”. Later in the afternoon, Idaho Democrats held a press conference at the Capitol to discuss their opinions on the legislative session. When the topic of Representative Bedke’s work group was brought up, House Minority Leader John Rusche (D-Lewiston) said,
"Well, good for him. We know how much results the tax working group had, right? Nothing. This issue has been studied to death with professionals who know health care policy, health care financing. The complications of not covering health care for the low-income are clear. I laid ‘em out for my district: We can expect three deaths and spend another $1.75 million over the next year."
In a joint statement Representative Rusche and Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, (D-Ketchum) stated,
"We fought long and hard for healthcare fairness, to protect those in the insurance gap from being financially destroyed by an illness. Closing the gap also saves Idaho lives and millions of dollars. The fact that House Republicans – after four long years – were unable to see the plight of the 78,000 was very disappointing. We will be calling on Gov. Otter to proceed by executive decision or call a special session, likely best done after the GOP primary elections."
House kills health care bill on party-line vote, adjourns; full story- The Spokesman Review
Bedke plans working group on gap coverage plan during interim - The Spokesman Review
Our View: Legislative Session More Than a Dud – It Was a Dangerous Failure – Times-News
As Idaho health proposal dies, focus turns to Otter – Idaho Statesman
Bills/Rules of Note
For full bill text and more information regarding bills this session, please go to the Idaho Legislature Bill Center
| Bill No |
Description |
Last Action |
| S1393 |
Approp, catastrophic hth care, orig |
03/21/2016 Senate - Reported delivered to Governor at 2:40 p.m. on 03/21/16 |
| H0482 |
Boards/qualifications/consumr membr |
03/22/2016 House - Delivered to Governor at 10:45 a.m. on March 22, 2016 |
| H0516 |
Abortion, ultrasounds |
03/22/2016 House - Delivered to Governor at 10:45 a.m. on March 22, 2016 |
| H0533 |
Hospital districts, board trustees |
03/22/2016 House - Delivered to Governor at 10:45 a.m. on March 22, 2016 |
| H0549 |
Approp, public hlth districts, orig |
03/22/2016 House - Delivered to Governor at 10:45 a.m. on March 22, 2016 |
| H0550 |
Approp, drug policy office, orig |
03/22/2016 House - Delivered to Governor at 10:45 a.m. on March 22, 2016 |
| H0332 |
Residential care, license renewal |
03/22/2016 House - Reported Signed by Governor on March 22, 2016 |
| H0333 |
Optometrists, license renewal |
03/22/2016 House - Reported Signed by Governor on March 22, 2016 |
| H0334 |
Physical therapy license renewal |
03/22/2016 House - Reported Signed by Governor on March 22, 2016 |
| S1295 |
Public assistnc/provider penalties |
03/22/2016 Senate - Signed by Governor on 03/22/16 |
| S1296 |
Background checks/fed pilot project |
03/22/2016 Senate - Signed by Governor on 03/22/16 |
| S1326 |
Suicide preventn/diretor authority |
03/22/2016 Senate - Signed by Governor on 03/22/16 |
| H0500 |
Medicare reimbursement rate |
03/23/2016 House - Reported Signed by Governor on March 23, 2016 |
| H0528 |
Sexual assault evidence kits |
03/23/2016 House - Reported Signed by Governor on March 23, 2016 |
| HCR063 |
Health care study committee |
03/23/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Health & Welfare |
| S1323 |
State independent living council |
03/23/2016 Senate - Reported delivered to Governor at 11 a.m. on 03/23/16 |
| S1341 |
Residential care, citations |
03/23/2016 Senate - Reported delivered to Governor at 11 a.m. on 03/23/16 |
| S1399 |
Approp, edu bd, hlth ed prgrm, orig |
03/23/2016 Senate - Reported delivered to Governor at 11 a.m. on 03/23/16 |
| S1403 |
Approp, H&W chld wlfr DDS srv, orig |
03/23/2016 Senate - Reported delivered to Governor at 11 a.m. on 03/23/16 |
| S1293 |
Ed, parental rights in education |
03/23/2016 Senate - Signed by Governor on 03/23/16 |
| H0554 |
Worker's compensation, firefighters |
03/24/2016 House - Delivered to Governor at 10:36 p.m. on March 24, 2016 |
| H0557 |
Ed/youth athletes/concussion monitr |
03/24/2016 House - Delivered to Governor at 10:36 p.m. on March 24, 2016 |
| H0566 |
Approp, H&W public hlth srvcs, orig |
03/24/2016 House - Delivered to Governor at 10:36 p.m. on March 24, 2016 |
| H0331 |
Alcoholic bevs, powdered alcohol |
03/24/2016 House - Delivered to Governor at 3:04 p.m. on March 24, 2016 |
| S1265 |
Insuranc premium tax/high risk pool |
03/24/2016 House - Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate |
| S1322 |
Epinephrine auto-injectors |
03/24/2016 House - Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate |
| H0483 |
Pharmacy, communicatn, bio products |
03/24/2016 House - Reported Signed by Governor on March 24, 2016 |
| S1382 |
Nursing, definition revised |
03/24/2016 Senate - Reported delivered to Governor at 10:45 a.m. on 03/24/16 |
| S1390 |
Approp, Idaho state police, orig |
03/24/2016 Senate - Signed by Governor on 03/24/16 |
| S1391 |
Approp, H&W medicaid, orig |
03/24/2016 Senate - Signed by Governor on 03/24/16 |
| S1201 |
Approp, catastrophic health, reduce |
03/25/2016 House - Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate |
| S1253 |
Child protection, caregivers |
03/25/2016 House - Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate |
| S1404 |
Unborn infants dignity act |
03/25/2016 House - Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate |
| S1413 |
Approp, H&W indirect support, orig |
03/25/2016 House - Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate |
| H0650 |
Approp, H&W, hlthcr plcy int, trail |
03/25/2016 House - Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate |
| H0644 |
Health grant program/med underservd |
03/25/2016 House - UC not to concur; objection |
