BOISE — Medicaid expansion in Idaho will be tracked as a stand-alone item -- so that lawmakers can see how much it's costing and where the money is going.
Medicaid Division Administrator Matt Wimmer also told lawmakers on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee Monday that there will be decreases in the cost of some other state programs with the expansion.
Voters authorized Medicaid expansion with an initiative in November -- that passed with 61 percent approval -- after years of inaction by the Idaho Legislature.
The expansion will provide access to preventative health care services for about 91,000 low-income Idaho residents, according to a risk management company hired by the state.
The federal government would cover ninety percent of the estimated $400 million cost of Medicaid expansion -- and Idaho lawmakers have to figure out how to pay the state's share.
(by Associated Press)
