Medicaid expansion made law

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

Some of Idaho’s most vulnerable residents are only a year away from access to health coverage. 

Acting Gov. Brad Little signed a proclamation Tuesday certifying Proposition 2, which voters passed by more than 60 percent to expand Medicaid. The Idaho Press reports that barring any bumps in the road, the expansion should go into effect Jan. 1, 2020. 

The next step is for Idaho Health and Welfare to submit its expansion plan to the federal government within 90 days, which reportedly shouldn’t be a problem. That sends the ball into the Idaho Legislature’s court, which will have to approve funding for expansion during the legislative session, which begins in January. 

Medicaid expansion provides a health care solution for thousands of Idahoans caught in the so-called “gap.” They make too much to qualify for previous Medicaid requirements but too little to buy subsidized insurance off the health care exchange.