Week three of the legislative session proved to be a very busy one in terms of public health. Several new bills were introduced and have now been added to our tracking list. This week we will again look at the future of the ACA and Close the Gap. We will follow up on bill S1009, and will look at some highlights from this week’s Health and Welfare listening session. As always, if you have questions, comments, or suggestions regarding issues or items that you would like to see followed here, please feel free to contact me at: tiffenystees.policyintern@gmail.com.

On the National Level

This week, Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana unveiled their proposed replacement for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The so-called Cassidy-Collins plan would give states options to keep the ACA as is, enact their own insurance expansion, or completely opt out of federal assistance. The Cassidy-Collins plan is the latest in a growing body of other bills proposed by the GOP as potential answers to the looming healthcare crisis, pending repeal without replacement of the ACA; a repeal that will affect 20 million Americans. Read more about this latest proposal, and others here.  Read Trump’s seven point healthcare reform proposal here, and for more information on the implications and ramifications of his Medicaid “block grant” funding proposal go here and  here.

On our Idaho home front, House Health and Welfare Chairman, Fred Wood, assured a packed room on January 27 (during the joint Health and Welfare listening session) that lawmakers are, “working on the gap issue.” Rep. Wood told those in attendance that he heard them, “loud and clear,” stating also that “if it were that easy” to fix Idaho’s healthcare gap issue “it would have been done by now.” Read the source material here

Advocacy group, Close the Gap Idaho, noted in a Facebook post on Friday the 27^th that the Trump administration has cancelled all outreach ads, email reminders, phone calls and other promotion related to the final five days of the open enrollment period. Close the Gap Idaho reminds citizens that it is important for people to know they can still be enrolled and covered for 2017. They urge all those who might be affected to visit to Healthcare.gov to learn how they might still enroll before January 31st.

Health & Welfare Listening Session

January 27th's joint listening session was well attended, with many people unable to be heard due to the large turnout. Testimony was given on a variety of subjects ranging from safety and efficacy complaints about Veyo (a non-emergency medical transport service for the state that contracts individual drivers) to faith healing and health care choice by Health Freedom Idaho. Mike Berlin, from Boise State University and the Idaho Alzheimer’s Planning Group, testified regarding the “broken system of care” affecting Idahoans with Alzheimer’s and their families, and Boise physician, Dr. Kara Kuntz, testified in support of the Idaho Caregiver Alliance’s, Idaho Lifespan Caregiver Action Plan. Read all source materials, and more about the session through the in-text links provided.

 Update on S1009

Bill S1009 (discussed in depth in last week’s post) passed the Senate Committee Hearing on Wednesday, January 25^th and now heads to the Senate floor.  If passed, it will move to the House Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee before final approval. Austin Hopkins, from the Idaho Conservation League (ICL), notes that this bill will greatly impact air quality and the health of Idahoans. In a statement disseminated to this writer the position of the ICL is clear, “Farming is an integral part to Idaho, but farming practices that endanger public health should not be authorized by regulating agencies such as the Department of Environmental Quality.  We need a collaborative approach to identify and develop solutions that rely on the best available science and truly protect human health."

Other agencies supporting stronger, more protective air quality regulations include, the American Medical Association, American Lung Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Thoracic Society, and the American Heart Association. For further reading on the subject of ozone levels, air quality, and the impact of both on human health go here. For more about S1009, and its trajectory through this legislative session, go here

Following Up…

As discussed in Week One’s post, Senator Dan Foreman (R-Moscow) planned to introduce a bill during this session classifying abortion as murder (with the sole exception of when a mother's life is in danger), carrying penalties and charges for both mother and doctor.  His statements can be read here. However, advocacy group, Right to Life Idaho, will not be supporting this measure. To read more on their position, go here.

H0044: Secure Care for More Vulnerable Clients

House bill H0044 was printed and referred to Health and Welfare on 01/24/2017.  This legislation will enable the DHW to maintain and operate a secure treatment wing  at the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC) for more vulnerable clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities needing a higher level of care. To learn more about  some of the changes regarding SWITC over the past years  go here

Upcoming Advocacy Days & Involvement Opportunities

February 7th: AARP Idaho, 1st floor,  Capitol

February 15th: Suicide prevention advocacy day at the Capitol sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Idaho. For more information about this and the AFSP go here

February 21st: Consortium for Idahoans with Disabilities, 1st floor, Capitol (for more information visit CID on Facebook here

February 27th: Alzheimer's Association Idaho, the Capitol. Be visible and wear purple to show your support!

IPHA Bill Tracker

Bill No.	Description	Last Action
S1003	Nurse emeritus licenses; licensure renewal & reinstatement	01/16/2017 Reported printed; referred to Commerce & HR
S1004	Board of Nursing member raise in compensation	01/13/2017 Reported printed; referred to Health & Welfare
S1009	DEQ; crop residue burning	01/27/2017 Read second time; filed for third reading
S1013	Marijuana/drug paraphernalia repeal	01/20/2017 Reported printed; referred to JR
S1024	Child protective act/definition revised	01/25/2017 Reported printed; referred to JR
H002	Pharmacists reciprocal licensing	01/27/2017 Read second time; filed for third reading
H003	Pharma/tuberculin protein products	01/27/2017 Read second time; filed for third reading
H004	Pharmacists, tobacco cessation products	01/27/2017 Read second time; filed for third reading
H005	Controlled substances, opioids	01/27/2017 Read second time; filed for third reading
H006	Controlled substances	01/17/2017 Introduced; read first time; referred to Health & Welfare
H007	Massage therapists; change “establishment to school”	01/17/2017 Reported printed; referred to Health & Welfare
H008	Massage therapists; institute criminal background checks	01/17/2017 Reported printed; referred to Health & Welfare
H0010	Chiropractic practice; licensure	01/27/2017 Introduced; read first time; referred to Comm. & HR
H0011	Optometrists; licensure/provisions & revisions	01/17/2017 Reported printed; referred to Health & Welfare
H0020	Vehicles; hybrid/plug-in fee reduction	01/20/2017 Reported printed and Referred to Transportation & Defense
H0025	Tobacco permits, terminology	01/27/2017 Introduced; read first time; referred to local Gov. & Tax
H0038	Mental health, cite ref added	01/24/2017 Reported printed and referred to Health & Welfare
H0039	Medicaid; H&W agreements	01/24/2017 Reported printed and referred to Health & Welfare
H0040	Hosp, mentally ill, release notice	01/24/2017 Reported printed and referred to Health & Welfare
H0041	Individuals w/ disabilities/ABLE accts	01/24/2017 Reported printed and referred to Health & Welfare
H0042	Behavioral health, council board	01/24/2017 Reported printed and referred to Health & Welfare
H0043	Med. assistance/eligibility/emotional disturbance	01/24/2017 Reported printed and referred to Health & Welfare
H0044	Secure treatment facility act	01/24/2017 Reported printed and referred to Health & Welfare
H0045	Dieticians/licensing revised	01/24/2017 Reported printed and referred to Health & Welfare