Medicaid gap panel meets for 1st time

The Legislature’s joint working group on Idaho’s health coverage gap has convened its first meeting this morning. Co-Chairman Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, talked about “the resistance that we’re having among members” in the House. “I think mistakenly or otherwise, we thought that we were talking about a pure Medicaid expansion. And the director can speak for himself, but that is not what has ever been intended in Idaho,” he said. “We want to change the way we deliver all of Medicaid, and fit that with working in this population.”

State Health & Welfare Director Dick Armstrong will address the panel later this morning.

Loertscher said, “Several attempts have been made in the House to try to get members there up to speed. And one of the things that has been very apparent to me is the lack of understanding about Medicaid, throughout the membership of the Legislature in general/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here.