Regulation of Contraceptives

On Monday Alex Adams, Executive Director, Idaho State Board of Pharmacy, presented House Bill No. 340 to the House Health and Welfare Committee. The bill aims to repeal an archaic 1937 chapter for the regulation of non-prescription contraceptives. It has not been updated since 1982 and is not enforced. It does not have any impact on prescription contraceptives. Representative John Rusche (D-Lewiston) made a motion to send H 336 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation. Adams also presented House Bill No. 335, 336, 337, 338, and 339 on behalf of the Board of Pharmacy.

HB 340 full bill text can be found here

Orofino Maniacs License Plate

Last Friday, Representative Paul Shepherd (R-Riggins) introduced a bill to create the "Friends of the Orofino Maniacs" license plate in the House Transportation Committee. House Bill No. 413 seeks to put the word MANIAC into Idaho Code and the a license plate depicting the Orofino maniac mascot will be officially sanctioned and issued by the State of Idaho. Orofino is the location of State Hospital North, the state mental hospital; Orofino High School has had “Maniacs” as its school mascot since the 1920s. On Tuesday, the House Transportation Committee heard from advocates for the mentally ill and people who suffer from mental illnesses that an “Orofino Maniacs” specialty license plate would be offensive. The committee voted to send the bill the House’s amending order to remove its four references to the word “maniacs,” but still authorize a special plate with the emblem.

The Idaho Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health believes this legislation is harmful. They sent out a newsletter earlier this week stating:

The issue is that the word maniac and the logo of the mascot adds to a false stereo-type of people with mental illness and adds to the stigma they face. Mania is a recognized mood disorder characterized by abnormally elevated and aroused energy levels, effusiveness and/or irritability. By allowing the Orofino Maniacs name and their mascot logo to be place on Idaho's license plates, it will signal that Idaho officially sanction of the use of a word and image that is hurtful, insulting, discriminatory and stigmatizing to every Idahoan who lives have been touched by mental illness. This is more than political correctness and trying to ban a word we find offensive.  Stigma is one of the major barriers for people to seek help and treatment whether for mental illness or to prevent suicide!

Full bill text HB 413 full bill text can be found here

Medicaid Expansion

If you missed my special update regarding the Medicaid expansion hearing, it can be found here.

Medicaid Expansion in the news

Tax cuts sweep House; broader policy moves swept under rug - Idaho Statesman

Otter’s health care plan would cover Idaho’s poorest — until something goes wrong – Idaho Statesman

Week of February 5, Indigent Health Care – Idaho Reports

Local doctor fights to break Medicaid gap – NPG of Idaho

Doctor: Not expanding Medicaid has led to nearly 1,000 deaths in Idaho – Idaho Statesman

Idaho doctor: Legislative inaction has killed 1,000 Idahoans – Idaho Business Review

Idaho Senate panel listens to Medicaid expansion hearing – KBOI2

Legend Drugs

Ross Edmunds, Administrator of the Division of Behavioral Health, presented House Bill No. 373 to the House Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday.  The legislation proposes changes to the Legend Drug Act to designate the Department's Regional Behavioral Health Centers and State Charitable Institutions as "qualifying charitable clinic(s) or center(s)" under the Legend Drug Act. This change would then allow the Regional Behavioral Health Centers to accept donated medications including unused Patient Assistance Program Medications. These donated medications may then be dispensed to indigent clients with a valid prescription order. The bill was reported out of committee with do pass recommendation and passed the House on Thursday.

HB 373 full bill text can be found here

Controlled Substance Prescription Database

House Bill No. 374 was reported out of the House Health and Welfare Committee with Do Pass Recommendation and filed for a second reading on Wednesday. HB 374 seeks to authorize certain supervised individuals (delegates) to access the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database, to limit the number of delegates to be supervised, and to require Board of Pharmacy registration by each delegate.

HB 374 full bill text can be found here 

Health Care Task Force

Also on Wednesday, House Bill No. 375 was reported out of the House Health and Welfare Committee with Do Pass Recommendation and filed for a second reading. The first purpose of HB 375 is to remove the single reference to the Health Care Task Force by amending Section 56-1054, Idaho Code. Secondly, the bill repeals Section 1, Chapter 280, Session Laws of 2006, which renamed the Health Insurance Premium Task Force the Health Care Task Force.

HB 375 full bill text can be found here

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

Bill #	Description	Last Action
S1196	Sexual orientation, gender identity	01/20/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to State Affairs
S1204	Medicaid, eligibility expansion	01/25/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
S1205	Medical assist/eligibility standard	01/25/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
H0331	Alcoholic bevs, powdered alcohol	01/28/2016 House - Reported out of Committee, Recommend place on General Orders
H0416	Chip plan B, eligibility requirmnts	02/01/2016 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Ways & Means
H0421	Health insurance exchange	02/01/2016 House - Reported Printed and Referred to Ways & Means
S1231	Chiropractic practic/prescrib drugs	02/01/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
H0332	Residential care, license renewal	02/02/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human Resources
H0333	Optometrists, license renewal	02/02/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human Resources
H0334	Physical therapy license renewal	02/02/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human Resources
H0341	Patient freedom of info act	02/02/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human Resources
H0335	Controlled substances, sched II	02/04/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Health & Welfare
H0336	Pharmacy board terms	02/04/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Health & Welfare
H0337	Prescriptions, med examiners/dbase	02/04/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Health & Welfare
H0338	Legend drug possession	02/04/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Health & Welfare
H0339	Controlled substance storage	02/04/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Health & Welfare
S1251	Nursing licensure compact	02/04/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
S1252	Nursing, definition revised	02/04/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Health & Welfare
S1216	Approp, blind com, add'l	02/05/2016 House - Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
H0374	Control subs prescription database	02/05/2016 House - Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
H0375	Health care task force	02/05/2016 House - Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
H0413	License plates, Orofino hs maniacs	02/05/2016 House - Reported out of Committee, Recommend place on General Orders
S1201	Approp, catastrophic health, reduce	02/05/2016 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 8, 2016
S1206	Approp, H&W indirect support, add'l	02/05/2016 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 8, 2016
S1207	Approp, H&W psych hosp, add'l	02/05/2016 House - U.C. to hold place on third reading calendar until Monday, February 8, 2016
H0340	Pharm brd, contraceptives	02/05/2016 Senate - Introduced, read first time; referred to: Health & Welfare
S1264	Pharmacy, durable medical equipment	02/05/2016 Senate - Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
S1265	Insuranc premium tax/high risk pool	02/05/2016 Senate - Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
S1211	Catastrophic heath care program	02/05/2016 Senate - Passed: Ayes 32 Nays 1 Excused 2; title approved; to House
S1253	Child protection, caregivers	02/05/2016 Senate - Reported Printed; referred to Judiciary & Rules
S1199	Approp, medical boards, add'l	02/05/2016 Senate - Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor