This week’s legislative update delivers an overview of public health issues discussed in the Governor’s budget revisions, more information regarding PCAP, unexpected news about Medicaid expansion, and other topics of interest during the week.
Governor’s Budget Revisions
Governor Otter made revisions to his executive budget and submitted the changes to JFAC on Monday. The changes included the deletion of a $2.9 million reversion that had been expected from the Department of Health & Welfare (but now is on hold pending the study for in-home care services mentioned last week) and recognition of the $11 million in additional savings in the CAT fund.
PCAP Funding
House Speaker Scott Bedke (R-Oakley) doesn’t completely agree with Governor Butch Otter’s proposed funding mechanism for PCAP. Instead of using $30 million from cigarette and tobacco taxes, Representative Bedke suggested that the money come from the Millennium Fund and savings from the Catastrophic Health Care Fund. Full story.
Director Armstrong Presents on PCAP
Department of Health and Welfare Director Richard Armstrong presented the Primary Care Access Program to the Senate Health & Welfare Committee on Tuesday. During his presentation, Director Armstrong described how the program would work, provided examples, and explained how it is not an “entitlement program”. He mentioned, “this is all our money, this is state of Idaho, and we can drive the program as we see fit.” Director Armstrong also briefed the House Health & Welfare Committee on Wednesday. Betsy Russell’s account of the Senate Committee meeting can be found here.
CAT Fund Savings Bill
The Senate voted in favor of Senate Bill No. 1201 on Wednesday. The legislation proposes to transfer $29 million in savings from the Catastrophic Health Care fund back to the state’s general fund. Up until recently, the fund’s costs had been rising significantly. Three years ago, Idaho established the Your Health Idaho insurance exchange, which enabled about 100,000 Idahoans to enroll in health insurance plans. After the establishment of the insurance exchange, CAT fund costs have decreased significantly.
S1201 full bill text can be found here
New Recovery Center Funding
On Tuesday, The Idaho Legislature's Joint Millennium Fund Committee recommended funding four new community recovery centers. The centers are intended to provide a safe, supportive environment for people who are recovering from substance abuse and behavioral issues. As stated above, Representative Scott Bedke recently proposed to use the Millennium Fund money to pay for the Governor's Primary Care Access Program (PCAP) proposal.
Millennium Fund panel backs recovery center funding – The Spokesman-Review
Committee barely OKs recovery center proposal - The Lewiston Tribune
Comprehensive Plan for Suicide Prevention
The Idaho Council on Suicide Prevention presented a comprehensive plan for suicide prevention to the House Health and Welfare Committee on Thursday. The presentation was titled “Success Through Collaboration”. The Council stated that suicide is a prevalent public health problem in Idaho. The moving presentation provided facts about suicide in the state and descriptions of “what works”. The Health Quality Planning Commission (HQPC) followed the Idaho Council on Suicide Prevention with a similar presentation. It was referred to as a “tag team approach”. In 2015 SCR 104 charged the HQPC to prepare an implementation plan for a comprehensive suicide prevention program. A team was assembled to select prevention methods most likely to succeed and the infrastructure necessary to improve coordinated efforts across Idaho. The HQPC provided data, recommendations, and initiatives to the committee. Both presentations, the questions that followed, and commentary can be listened to through the Idaho Legislature Digital Media Archive.
Medicaid Expansion Hearing
The Idaho Legislature will hold its first-ever hearing on Medicaid expansion next week. Senate Health and Welfare Committee has scheduled a public hearing on Tuesday for the two personal bills introduced by Senator Dan Schmidt (D-Moscow). The hearing will include time for the public to present testimony in support or opposition of the two bills.
S1204 full bill text can be found here
S1205 Full bill text can be found here
News articles about the hearing:
Medicaid Expansion to Get Hearing in Senate Committee – Twin Falls Times-News
Idaho Legislature schedules Medicaid expansion hearing – KTVB
Medicaid expansion plan gets first-ever hearing in Idaho – Idaho Statesman
Bills/Rules of Note
If there are specific Bills or Rules that you would like Molly to track, please let her know. For full bill text and more information regarding bills this session, please go to the Idaho Legislature Bill Center
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Bill No
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Description
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Last Action
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H0331
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Alcoholic bevs, powdered alcohol
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01/28/2016 House - Reported out of Committee, Recommend place on General Orders
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H0332
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Residential care, license renewal
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01/29/2016 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 1, 2016
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H0333
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Optometrists, license renewal
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01/29/2016 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 1, 2016
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H0334
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Physical therapy license renewal
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01/29/2016 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 1, 2016
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H0335
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Controlled substances, sched II
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01/19/2016 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
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H0336
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Pharmacy board terms
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01/19/2016 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
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H0337
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Prescriptions, med examiners/dbase
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01/19/2016 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
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H0338
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Legend drug possession
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01/19/2016 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
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H0339
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Controlled substance storage
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01/19/2016 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
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H0340
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Pharm brd, contraceptives
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01/19/2016 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
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H0341
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Patient freedom of info act
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01/29/2016 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 1, 2016
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H0375
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Health care task force
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01/27/2016 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Health & Welfare
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H0416
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Chip plan B, eligibility requirmnts
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01/29/2016 House - Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
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H0421
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Health insurance exchange
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01/29/2016 House - Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
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S1196
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Sexual orientation, gender identity
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01/20/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to State Affairs
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S1199
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Approp, medical boards, add'l
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01/29/2016 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 1, 2016
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S1201
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Approp, catastrophic health, reduce
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01/29/2016 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 1, 2016
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S1204
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Medicaid, eligibility expansion
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01/25/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
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S1205
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Medical assist/eligibility standard
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01/25/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
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S1206
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Approp, H&W indirect support, add'l
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01/29/2016 House - Read First Time, Filed for Second Reading
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S1207
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Approp, H&W psych hosp, add'l
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01/29/2016 Senate - Passed: Ayes 32 Nays 0 Excused 3; title approved; to House
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S1211
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Catastrophic heath care program
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01/25/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Local Government & Taxation
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S1231
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Chiropractic practic/prescrib drugs
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01/29/2016 Senate - Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
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This Week’s Presentations
House Health and Welfare:
Monday
Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency System Council, School-Based and Therapy Services, Health Care Policy Initiatives, Medicaid Enhanced Plan Benefits, Consumer Directed Services, Certified Family Homes, Licensure to Practice, and Telehealth Services
Tuesday
Residential Care, Optometrists, Physical Therapy, Patient Freedom of Information Act, and Your Health Idaho Annual Report
Wednesday
Primary Care Access Program
Thursday
Licensure to Practice, Telehealth Services, Idaho Council on Suicide Prevention, and Health Quality Planning Commission
Friday
Health Care Policy Initiatives, Medicaid Enhanced Plan Benefits, Consumer Directed Services, and Certified Family Homes
Senate Health and Welfare:
Monday
Rules of the Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency System Council, Medicaid Enhanced Plan Benefits, Consumer-Directed Services, Rules Governing the Food Stamp Program in Idaho, Idaho Telecommunication Service Assistance Program Rules, Rules Governing the Emergency Food Assistance Program, Rules Governing the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Weatherization Assistance Program in Idaho
Tuesday
Rules of the Board of Medicine for the Licensure to Practice Medicine and Surgery and Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Idaho, Rules Relating to Telehealth Services, and Primary Care Access Program
Wednesday
Food Safety and Sanitation Standards for Food Establishments (The Idaho Food Code), Behavioral Health Sliding Fee Schedules, Behavioral Health Development Grants, Behavioral Health Programs, Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders Services, and Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders Treatment and Recovery Support Services Facilities and Programs
Thursday
Rules of the Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists, Rules of the State Board of Acupuncture, Rules of the Genetic Counselors Licensing Board, Rules of the State Board of Chiropractic Physicians, Rules of the Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals, Rules for the Licensure of Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants, Rules of the Idaho State Board of Psychologist Examiners, and Amending to revise restrictions relating to prescribing, dispensing, independently administering, distributing, directing or suggesting to patients certain drugs, substance or products.
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