Idaho Public Health Association | http://www.ipha.wildapricot.org
January 30, 2015 
Legislative Update January 30, 2015

This week's legislative update includes a overview of public health issues and happenings at the Capitol during week three of Idaho's legislative session. 

 

Updates will now be emailed as well as posted on the 2015 Legislative Updates page.

ACS CAN Idaho Lobby Day

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network held a lobby day at the Capitol this week on Tuesday. The group consisted of cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and advocates who hope to keep cancer a top priority for Idaho's lawmakers.

 

Optum Idaho Annual Report

Optum, a unit of UnitedHealth Group contracted by the state of Idaho to manage outpatient mental health and substance treatment for patients enrolled in the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan, presented to the House Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday. Becky diVittorio, the executive director, reported that the company's satisfaction rating is up to 95% among members. Committee members expressed concern that their constituents still encounter cuts to services and delays. To the challenge, diVittorio responded that there is a "need to get creative". Optum plans to utilize telehealth providers to help communities that do not have access to certified providers. 

 

"Add the Words"

On Thursday, after days of testimony, Idaho's House State Affairs Committee voted 13-4 to hold the bill aiming to add the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to Idaho's Human Rights Act. 

 

Idaho Telehealth Council

The Idaho Telehealth Council held a meeting on January 29 to review the Idaho Telehealth Access act draft legislation and voted to hold the draft until the February meeting to allow for further discussion. The legislation will provide definitions, provide for the delivery of healthcare services through telehealth, authorize state agencies and licensing boards to disseminate rules governing health care services provided by telehealth, and provide for related matters.

 

Public Testimony for Health and Welfare

The Senate and House Health and Welfare committee held public hearings January 30. This time allowed for Idaho residents to attend and speak on any health related topic. Lawmakers sought to hear from as many people as possible and individuals were given a 3-minute time limit. Topics of testimony centered on the need for Medicaid redesign, the lack of mental health services in Idaho, and concerns regarding Optum.

 

Heartfelt presentations were made on behalf of Medicaid redesign and the Idahoans who cannot afford health coverage. Many shared stories of hard working Idahoans who don't qualify for Medicaid but do not earn enough to buy health coverage through Idaho's exchange. Testimonies varied, but contained the same message; support is needed to help the Idahoans who fall in the coverage gap. Medicaid redesign is needed for the good of all hard working Idahoans. In the two hours of testimony only one person, a representative of the Foundation for Government Accountability from Florida, spoke against Medicaid expansion. 

 

The lack of mental health services in Idaho is a concern for many. One woman explained that mental health services are limited in Idaho and mental health must be made a budget priority. Idahoans deserve to receive treatment before tragedy.

 

Providers, patients, and concerned citizens spoke out against Optum. Although earlier this week, Optum reported that their satisfaction rating was up to 95%, one man asked, "What is the sample size?". Optum has presented no statistics and providers continue to watch as services are being cut. Parents of mentally ill children gave emotional testimony surrounding their experiences with Optum's service cuts. Those that spoke urged the Health and Welfare committees to realize the gap in Optum's continuum of care, investigate the service denials, and renegotiate Optum's contract. 

 

Chairman Fred Wood, R-Burley, thanked those who spoke and closed with, "We understand a lot of Idahoans have gone through a tough time economically. We are coming out of that." He acknowledged two main themes that came from the testimony. "The gap population, the 85,000 people who have no access to health care. Second, a corollary to that to some extent, as we go forward and try to develop and build a sustainable model of health care in the United States that we can actually afford.. There's going to be some bumps along the way. We hear you. We don't have a deaf ear."

 

The Healthy Idaho Plan

Healthy Idaho has a new website! www.healthyidaho.org has great information about the Healthy Idaho Plan, the latest news and data regarding Idaho's coverage gap, and ways to take action.

 

Bills/Rules of Note

If there are specific Bills or Rules that you would like Molly to track, please let her know.

During the coming months, IPHA's Policy Intern, Molly Volk, will be monitoring public health related issues that appear during the 2015 Legislative Session.

 

Molly is a current student at Boise State University studying Health Science Policy and Leadership with a minor in Business Administration. She will be graduating in May and plans to pursue a Master of Health Science with an emphasis in Policy at Boise State in the fall.

 

Past updates can be found at:

http://www.ipha.wildapricot.org/2015-Legislative-Updates

 

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or if there are issues that you would like her to follow this session, she can be contacted at [email protected]

 

Idaho Public Health Association | 208-866-0545 | [email protected] | http://ipha.wildapricot.org/
P.O. Box 6247
Boise, ID 83707