Tougher Rules Sought For Indigent Medical Care

The Idaho Association of Counties wants the Legislature to enact a new law, requiring someone to live in a county for 90 days before becoming eligible for medical indigent assistance.

That would eliminate coverage for the thousands of migrant workers used in Idaho agriculture.

The Idaho Migrant Council will oppose it.

“We would argue that those individuals that come into the area to harvest and prepare the land for crops certainly are as entitled to participate in whatever benefits are available to other county residents,” said Lew Rodriguez, Idaho Falls Migrant Council staff worker.

Emergency medical bills for indigents now are covered by county property taxes, except for very large bills, which are covered by a state fund.

County officials say people have hopped across state lines to enjoy Idaho’s relatively liberal benefits.

County welfare administrator Jeanine Doney said she’s heard that people move to Idaho for health care purposes, recounting stories in which people arrive in town on a bus and take a taxi over to the hospital.

Idaho is one of 11 states exempting farmers from providing workers’ compensation insurance.

Doney said the best way to provide migrant workers medical coverage is to require the farmers who employ them to pay.

The residency issue is among county welfare reform proposals the association will present to the Legislature before the next session starts.