February 4, 2021
Federal Medical Relief Available for Medicaid through 2021
This morning, the Idaho Legislature received a budget presentation on Governor Little’s recommended Medicaid budgets for State Fiscal Year 2022 (SFY2022). Originally included in the governor’s budgets were proposed cuts to Medicaid of $118 million ($30 million in state funds and $88 million in federal funds). About 90 percent of the proposed cuts would come from programs that serve Idaho’s children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. With the Public Health Emergency extending through the rest of 2021, federal Medicaid relief will allow for full funding of the state Medicaid budget without having to implement program changes or cut access to life saving services during these unprecedented and uncertain times without having to implement the proposed cuts. Read more here.
January 11, 2021
Health Care Advocates Respond to Governor Little’s State of the State
Following Governor Little’s State of the State address today, January 11, 2021, Close the Gap Idaho provided a response to his budget recommendations as the Idaho Legislature convenes the 2021 Legislative Session. The response highlights the value of Medicaid to our state and Idahoans, the critical role it i s playing during the ongoing public health and economic crisis and recommendations to fully fund the Medicaid budget. Read more here.
February 14, 2020
Close the Gap Idaho Applauds 3-0 Appeals Decision Against Work
Reporting Requirements
This morning a federal appeals court ruled 3-0 to uphold a lower court ruling against the Trump Administration in a strong rebuke of work reporting requirements for Medicaid. The ruling upheld Judge Boasberg’s decision that HHS does not have the authority to implement work reporting requirements for Medicaid, and that the additional bureaucratic restrictions are ‘arbitrary and capricious’. This ruling once again affirms that work reporting requirements don’t hold up to the test of the law, and put the health of Medicaid enrollees at risk. Read more here.
January 6, 2020
Health Care Advocates Celebrate Coverage Under Medicaid Expansion
Following Governor Little’s State of the State address, members of Close the Gap Idaho and other health care advocates hosted a press conference to celebrate the beginning of health coverage under Medicaid expansion and to demonstrate support for the governor’s leadership and commitment to implementing and funding Medicaid expansion. Read more here.
November 7, 2019
Medicaid Expansion Will Save Lives in Idaho
Expanding Medicaid has prevented over 19,000 premature deaths nationwide, according to landmark new research. Conversely,15,600older adults died prematurely because of state decisions not to expand Medicaid. In Idaho alone, 180 lives were lost between 2014 and 2017 as a result of the choice not to expand Medicaid. Read more here.
October 3, 2019
Feds Open Comment Period for Idaho’s Work Reporting Requirement Waiver
Despite intense public opposition and thousands of comments denouncing Idaho’s proposal to put new restrictions on Medicaid, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare submitted an 1115 application to the federal government without addressing any concerns or flaws highlighted in comments. Officials took only four days to review over 700 pages worth of public concerns, technical flaws with the proposal, and stories from Idahoans who will suffer if the proposal is approved, before submitting the exact same proposal to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Read more here.
September 23, 2019
Thousands of Idahoans Oppose Medicaid Reporting Requirements
As Idaho closes the state comment period for its 1115 proposal for Medicaid work reporting requirements, thousands of individuals from across the state have made it clear they don’t support the effort to impose bureaucratic restrictions to needed health insurance. Close the Gap has collected over 1,800 comments on behalf of Idahoans opposed to the new policy. Read more here.
September 3, 2019
Health Care Leaders Speak in Opposition to Work Reporting Requirements Prior to First Public Hearing
Immediately prior to the first public hearing regarding Idaho’s pending application to add work reporting requirements to voter approved Medicaid expansion, health care leaders from Close the Gap Idaho explained how the policy would be harmful to thousands of Idahoans set to receive health coverage this January. Read more here.
August 26, 2019
Dozens of Health Care Organizations Oppose Idaho’s 1115 Waiver Request for Medicaid Work Requirements
Following intense opposition to work reporting requirements added to Medicaid expansion, Close the Gap Idaho remains opposed to the expensive and dangerous policies outlined in Idaho’s 1115 waiver application filed on Friday. The proposed policies are not likely to support work but will certainly result in considerable loss of health coverage for thousands of people-as the state itself acknowledges. Read more here.
July 1, 2019
Close the Gap Idaho Honors Senator Fred Martin with a 2019 Health Care Champion Award
On Friday, June 28th Close the Gap Idaho, a network of health care stakeholders and thousands of individuals statewide focused on supporting Medicaid expansion in Idaho, held a Health Care Advocates Reception at the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry where Senator Fred Martin was presented with its 2019 Health Care Champion Award by Toni Lawson, Vice President of Government Relations for Idaho Hospital Association. Senator Martin (R, District 15) was chosen as the recipient of this award for his dedication to Medicaid expansion and upholding the will of Idaho voters throughout the 2019 Legislative Session. Read more here.
April 9, 2019
Close the Gap Idaho Vows to Oppose Implementation of 1204a
Close the Gap Idaho condemns Governor Brad Little’s decision to sign 1204a and is vowing to fight implementation of the damaging bill. The legislation to implement work-reporting requirements, among other provisions, will cost Idaho taxpayers millions to administer while stripping Medicaid-eligible Idahoans of their healthcare coverage. The bill will also trap Idaho in costly lawsuits over the work-reporting requirement, which has been deemed illegal in other states. Read more here.
April 5, 2019
Close the Gap Idaho Calls on Governor Little to Veto Senate Bill 1204aa
Close the Gap Idaho is calling on Governor Brad Little to veto Senate Bill 1204aa, which seeks to erect expensive barriers to enrolling in Medicaid. If enacted, this bill will cost millions in administrative costs, while stripping coverage from eligible Idahoans. The bill is also certain to ensnare Idaho in costly lawsuits over the work reporting requirement, which has been deemed illegal in other states. Read more here.
April 4, 2019
Close the Gap Idaho Decries Flagrant Disregard of Constituent Concerns
Today the House added multiple expensive provisions to SB1204aa, including a work requirement that would take coverage away from Idahoans who fail to meet it or can’t prove they are working or exempt. These amendments come after consistent public opposition to work reporting requirements, and despite the fact that work reporting requirements were deemed illegal in federal court just last week. Read more here.
April 2, 2019
Close the Gap Idaho Opposes SB1204a, Medicaid Expansion Barriers to Coverage Bill
Close the Gap Idaho has come out in opposition to SB1204a after the Senate moved to add harmful barriers to coverage to a bill previously supported by healthcare advocates. Read more here.
March 27, 2019
Federal Judge Strikes Down Work Requirements in Kentucky and Arkansas
Today, federal rulings in Stewart v. Azar and Gresham v. Azar declared the Medicaid work-reporting requirements in Kentucky and Arkansas unlawful. The move comes as the Idaho Legislature considers adding work-reporting requirements to the voter-approved Medicaid expansion law that would increase bureaucratic red tape and prevent Idahoans from getting the coverage they need. Read more here.
March 14, 2019
Physicians Urge Legislature to Implement Unmodified Medicaid Expansion
In a Statehouse press conference today, Idaho physicians called on the Legislature to implement unmodified Medicaid expansion as passed by 61% of the voters in November. Read more here.
February 27, 2019
New Poll Shows Idahoans Support Unmodified Implementation of Medicaid Expansion, Oppose High-Stakes Reporting Requirements
A new poll conducted February 21-24, 2019 by GS Strategy Group found that Idahoans overwhelmingly support the unmodified implementation of Medicaid expansion while opposing modifications that increase administrative costs. Read more here.
January 7, 2019
Close the Gap Idaho Calls on Legislature to Implement Medicaid Expansion
Medicaid proponents say the most cost-effective way to bring healthcare to 62,000 Idahoans is through unmodified Medicaid expansion. The ballot initiative was passed by 61% of Idaho voters in the November election and became law on November 20, 2018. Read more here.
December 12, 2018
Medicaid Expansion Implementation Background
After a labor-intensive signature-gathering phase and a hard-fought campaign, on November 6th, Idahoans supported Proposition 2, the Medicaid expansion ballot initiative, with more than 60% of the vote. Medicaid expansion is now the law of the land in Idaho. Proposition 2 was supported by Idahoans in all corners of the state, reflecting the bipartisan, grassroots nature of this initiative. Read more here.
December 7, 2018
Medicaid Close the Gap Calls for Unmodified Implementation of Medicaid Expansion
Boise, ID – On November 6th, Idahoans issued a mandate on healthcare in our state, supporting Proposition 2 to expand Medicaid with more than 60% of the vote. Following this resounding victory, Close the Gap is calling on our state lawmakers to implement Medicaid expansion as it was written, voted-upon, and passed by hundreds of thousands of Idahoans from across the state. Read more here.