The 2017 Idaho Legislative Session has now concluded. It has been an interesting 80 day ride in terms of healthcare and public health related legislation.  There were some definite hits, with the passing of H0146 (Rep. Wintrow’s sexual assault evidence preservation bill), and HCR3 (the Idaho Caregiver Alliance’s concurrent resolution recognizing the importance of caregivers); and some notable misses with the failure of the Tobacco 21 (S1106), and passing of S1009 that will serve to impact air quality in Idaho. The biggest items on this writer’s agenda were the proposed pieces of legislation designed to address the uninsured in Idaho, none of which were successful and all of which had limitations therein. The 78,000 people in Idaho’s healthcare “gap” population are still waiting. Citizen support and formal advocacy efforts, especially by advocacy group “Close the Gap Idaho,” on behalf of these Idahoans were nothing less than heroic. However, the work of all concerned has just begun.

The failure of the AHCA marks a new opportunity for all state-level advocates to re-group and strengthen their voices for the expansion of Medicaid in the coming year. All must keep a close watch on both state and federal fronts to ensure a just outcome for those who have limited or no access to healthcare. It has been a privilege for me to have followed these efforts, and to keep IPHA members and supporters generally informed of a breadth of happenings this year. I thank the IPHA for allowing me the opportunity to serve as intern, and look forward to lending my voice to theirs as I move out into our community with my MSW.

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions regarding this blog, or for the future direction thereof, please feel free to contact me at: tiffenystees.policyintern@gmail.com. All suggestions will be forwarded to IPHA’s administration.