Medicaid expansion hearing is Thursday

Jun. 22--The Idaho Department of Insurance will hold a public hearing in Lewiston Thursday morning to take comment on the first of at least two state Medicaid expansion waiver applications.

The hearing comes nearly three months after lawmakers imposed a series of conditions and "sideboards" on the Medicaid expansion initiative voters approved last fall.

As initially approved, Medicaid expansion would extend eligibility to all Idahoans who earn less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The expansion takes effect Jan. 1; people can start enrolling in the program Nov. 1.

However, Republican lawmakers noted that about 20,000 people who earn 100 percent to 138 percent of poverty currently receive subsidized health insurance through the state exchange. Rather than automatically move those individuals into the public Medicaid program, they wanted them to have the option to keep their private insurance plans.

Consequently, the Legislature directed the Department of Insurance to seek a waiver from the federal government. The waiver would give people in the 100 percent to 138 percent income category an option to remain on the state exchange, where they would qualify for subsidized insurance premiums; alternatively, they could choose to enroll in Medicaid.

The department expects to submit the waiver request on July 15, and hopes to have an answer by Sept. 1. The federal government has not previously approved a waiver of this type.

Thursday's public hearing takes place from 10-11 a.m., in the third floor conference room at the Department of Health and Welfare, 1118 F St.

People who want to call in to the meeting can dial (877) 820-7831, using guest code 925974. Comments can also be submitted online to [email protected], or by mail to the Product Review Bureau Chief, Department of Insurance, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0043.

The public comment period on the waiver ends at 5 p.m. PDT on June 30.

This is the first of at least two waivers the state will be submitting, as directed by the Legislature.

Republicans added several other conditions to the expanded Medicaid program that will require federal approval. That includes a proposed 20-hour-per-week work requirement, language allowing private mental health facilities to receive federal payments for Medicaid-eligible patients and language prohibiting traditional and expanded Medicaid participants from receiving family planning services or supplies from outside providers without a referral from their "medical home," or established provider.

Department of Health and Welfare officials have previously indicated these issues could be included in a single waiver application, or they might be split into multiple waiver requests. Either way, the public will have an opportunity to comment before the waiver is submitted.

In addition to the state comment period, there will be a minimum 30-day public comment period at the federal level before any waiver is approved.

More information regarding the status of the waivers can be found online, at https://medicaidexpansion.idaho.gov.

Spence may be contacted at [email protected] or (208) 791-9168.

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