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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

‘It’s not all a state responsibility’

Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how Idaho’s Medicaid program is facing such a big potential shortfall next year that officials are suggesting turning to volunteers to help out the disabled and poor who now rely on its services. State Health and Welfare Director Dick Armstrong told state lawmakers today that back in the 1950s and 1960s, volunteers performed many services that Medicaid provides today - and perhaps they could be recruited again, for everything from driving disabled people to doctor's appointments to checking on whether mentally ill patients have taken their medication. "I think it's a good idea," said Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, the vice-chair of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee. "That's part of helping our community as a whole. If we don't all pull together, we have less opportunity to come out of this as a healthy state." Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, said, "I think there's some merit there. We all have an obligation to help our fellow citizens - it's not all a state responsibility. I'm intrigued by his comment and hope there'll be some ways we're able to pursue that."



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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