Otter’s health care plan stuck in committee

Feb. 28--BOISE -- The governor's dual-waiver Idaho Health Care Plan was abruptly and unceremoniously killed Tuesday, getting pulled back to committee without ever receiving a floor vote.

"At this time, the votes just aren't there (to advance the bill)," said House Health and Welfare Chairman Fred Wood, R-Burley.

The legislation, which barely made it out of committee on a 7-5 vote earlier this month, was intended to help those who earn less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for subsidized premiums on the state health insurance exchange.

At the same time, about 2,500 people with high-cost, complex medical conditions would move from private insurance to Medicaid, shifting about $200 million in benefits costs from the private market to the federal system.

"I know a lot of you are disappointed," said Wood, who has been a supporter of helping Idaho's Medicaid gap population ever since the Affordable Care Act took effect in 2014.

"I know we've put this off for five years," he said. "I know we've kicked the can down the road, and I know 75 percent of the people of Idaho think this Legislature should do something for the gap population. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear we have the votes."

The move to pull the bill back to committee incensed House Democrats, who unanimously opposed the effort.

"How do we know the votes aren't there unless we actually take a vote?" asked House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise. "I know my entire caucus is there."

A handful of Republicans also criticized the move, saying it's a disservice to the hundreds of Idahoans who have testified on this issue over the years to kill the bill without even a vote.

"At least 95 of the 105 legislators have what I call a Rolls Royce (health care) plan, but we aren't willing to help those below 100 percent (of the poverty level) with a good plan," noted Rep. Eric Redman, R-Athol.

"There's nothing particularly wrong with this bill," said Rep. Christy Perry, R-Nampa. "After six years of work, the people of Idaho deserve a vote."

Perry, Redman and Reps. Caroline Troy of Genesee and Jarom Wagoner of Caldwell were the only Republicans to oppose the effort to kill the bill.

Troy said her vote reflected her disappointment at the Legislature's inability to come to grips with this issue.

"We've been trying for a long time to resolve this issue with the gap population," she said. "I'm frustrated that we're not going to be voting on it this session."

Troy said she still had some questions about the dual-waiver plan, but overall, "I thought it was a very creative and interesting way to address the problem."

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter highlighted the dual-waiver plan in his State of the State address in January, saying it "would stabilize Idaho's health care insurance market and give more working Idaho families the ability to purchase affordable coverage.

"The Idaho Health Care Plan gives us the opportunity to be both conservative and compassionate. It will enable those with the most costly, medically complex conditions to move to Medicaid. That in turn will enable insurance companies to reduce their premium rates for the majority of people in the individual marketplace."

Critics, however, dismissed the proposal as "Medicaid expansion" and a "bailout" for private insurers.

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, also suggested there were political reasons for Tuesday's move, as it kept Republicans from having to take a stand one way or another.

"I want to be reassured that we're not returning the bill to committee until after the candidate filing period," she said.

House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, ruled the question out of order, since it wasn't material to Wood's request.

After the floor session, Bedke said there weren't enough votes to pass the bill even if all the Democrats were counted.

"It doesn't have 36 votes," he said. "It comes back to the fact that we don't have consensus on this issue yet."

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Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168.

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