Legislation to make several changes in the way Idaho funds catastrophic health care costs for the indigent - including upping the deductible for counties from $10,000 per case to $11,000, while instituting cost-saving measures - has passed the House on a 54-15 vote, but only after long and strenuous debate from opponents. House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, told the House, "We are going to cause an automatic property tax increase." Rep. Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home, who spoke at length and then rose and debated against the bill for a second time, said a property tax increase would hurt farmers, ranchers and the elderly.

Gov. Butch Otter had originally called for upping the counties' deductibles to $15,000. House Health & Welfare Chair Sharon Block R-Twin Falls, told the House the bill was developed after nine weeks of negotiations with stakeholders on all sides, spurred by Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. "When the bill was heard in the Health & Welfare Committee, there was no testimony in opposition," she said. "This bill is designed to save money for the state, the counties, the hospitals and the taxpayers." The bill, SB 1158, earlier passed the Senate unanimously; it now goes to the governor's desk.

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