Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, a physician and an outspoken advocate of expanding Idaho's Medicaid program to replace the current county-state medical indigency and catastrophic care program, has sent an op-ed piece to Idaho newspapers saying, "The Idaho legislature adjourns with unfinished business. As health care reform moves forward, Idaho will have 100,000 people, many working poor without health coverage unless they have a catastrophic illness or injury. Then county taxpayers will pick up the bill, after the injured is found indigent, liens are filed and bankruptcy ensured."

Schmidt writes, "We currently pay for health care for this population in an inefficient way," and says, "We have work to do." Click below for his full article.

Idaho State Senate

SENATOR DAN J SCHMIDT

District 5 Latah and Benewah Counties
dschmidt@senate.idaho.gov

Unfinished Business

 

The Idaho legislature adjourns with unfinished business. As health care reform moves forward, Idaho will have 100,000 people, many working poor without health coverage unless they have a catastrophic illness or injury. Then county taxpayers will pick up the bill, after the injured is found indigent, liens are filed and bankruptcy ensured.

Last year, that cost counties about $40 million in property taxes. And if the cost per case is more than $11,000, the state pays the remainder. Last year, that cost Idaho taxpayers $35 million in general fund dollars. Almost all these people could have insurance coverage if Idaho chose to revise and expand Medicaid coverage as allowed and funded through the Affordable Care Act, yes, Obamacare. And that right there might explain the political reluctance. The numbers are clear, but this should be about more than just numbers. This needs to be the right choice.

We currently pay for health care for this population in an inefficient way. After the care has been provided, the injured or ill are determined to be impoverished then the hospital and physician are reimbursed with taxpayer dollars. Does this make sense to you? I understand the fear of expanding an entitlement program. As a family doctor, I always encourage appropriate use of services. If my patients, my neighbors or my family act irresponsibly, they hear from me. Health is something for which we can all take some personal responsibility. But that doesn’t mean we need to be stuck with how we have always done it. The Governor’s Work Group concluded that more of the same old Medicaid program wouldn’t suit this population or Idaho. So a unique benefits package was proposed that enrolls this group with monthly premiums and co-pays and a health savings plan.

Understand that by having these otherwise uninsured people paying co-pays and monthly premiums, even at very low rates, we will encourage people to avoid seeking their primary care in the emergency room and instead put the pressure of wise consumption and market forces onto our rising health care costs. This benefit plan can inspire responsible consumption. They can contribute, as we all can to the solution.

Health care costs are crippling our economy and clouding our future. We cannot control costs after the care has been given. Enrolling all Idahoans, managing the costs, holding patients and providers responsible can start Idaho down a different path. If we as a state don’t have the courage to take on this problem, then we aren’t behaving responsibly. We have work to do. 

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