By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports
The House Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday introduced a bill that would prohibit new Medicaid waivers from being implemented without legislative approval.
The bill, from House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma, R-Hammett, would require legislative approval before the Department of Health and Welfare adds additional groups of people covered by waivers to the state Medicaid plan.
The state grants Medicaid waivers in cases where groups of people need specific care that isn’t otherwise covered by the program.
Blanksma’s bill would not affect any waivers currently provided in Idaho law. It does specifically target the federal Social Security Act’s waivers under Section 1115, which some states use on Medicaid pilot programs.
The bill also prohibits waivers under Section 1915 of the Social Security Act, which some states use to support home and community-based services for people who otherwise may not qualify for Medicaid.
The bill must still get a full hearing in committee before it moves forward.
The state Medicaid Managed Care Task Force worked in interim to address the cost of Medicaid but did not release specific recommendations on the budget.
Ruth Brown | Producer
Ruth Brown grew up in South Dakota and her first job out of college was covering the South Dakota Legislature. She’s since moved on to Idaho lawmakers. Brown spent 10 years working in print journalism, including newspapers such as the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press, where she’s covered everything from the correctional system to health care issues. She joined Idaho Reports in 2021 and looks forward to telling stories about how state policy can impact the lives of regular Idahoans.