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 27th 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 25th 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
|