JFAC is debating the proposed intent language on Medicaid. Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, said, "We have to look at the stark reality of the economic situation that the state finds itself in." Wood said no one knows what the future holds for Idaho's economy. "As much as we don't like it ... we have to be creative in trying to figure out how we can maintain as many services as we can, the most essential services, but yet reduce the services to the point where we can actually afford it."

He said that's why his proposed Medicaid budget lays out priorities and asks the Department of Health & Welfare and the governor to craft additional cuts. "We felt strongly that pricing modifications should come ahead of benefit modifications, but both are going to have to be taken into account to achieve the amount of reduction in expenditures that we unfortunately have to go through," Wood said. "We have given some fairly direct instructions here. I have no doubt that the department can carry them out." Said Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, "The department is doing the best they can, but sometimes they get focused on the money portion and not the rest of it, so this is some attempt to guide them in making their cost-savings reductions." She said, "I think we have done the best that we could do."

Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, said, "We're talking about people's lives and people's health, whether there'll be access to the medications they need, whether they'll be on a wait list for mental health services." LeFavour said the overall effect of the budget could be a $100 million reduction in services, between state and federal funding, "and we say that we have to do this. ... We can show leadership ... that we don't harm the state's most vulnerable populations, and I think we're taking a pass on that."