The Courier
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Gooding Fourth Graders Paint Mural
Fourth Grade students and teachers at Gooding Elementary have recently been busy designing and painting a mural here in town. Final touches to come as weather permits. The plan is for this to become a yearly project with new murals like this one being added to the south wall of the
Gooding Fitness Center for the next few years. In the future students will then look to other businesses to offer space. The school and the city of Gooding would like to thank Mayor Brekke for being willing to donate space on his business’s wall for this enriching project. The mural has already received many wonderful comments from citizens, and we can’t wait to see what our students will come up with next!
Transitional Health Insurance Plans Extended
Non-grandfathered transitional health plans, also known as “grandmothered” plans, will be extended through December 31, 2020, the Idaho Department of Insurance announced today. The announcement follows the latest guidance released March 25, 2019 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that allows states the option of extending such plans. Most Affordable Care Act (ACA) market reforms took effect January 1, 2014. Non-grandfathered health policies in existence prior to that date are considered “transitional policies.” Director Dean Cameron says these types of health policies continue to serve many consumers well. “Numerous individuals and families have held onto these transitional policies since before 2014,” said Cameron. “We are pleased they will have the option to retain them for another year.” Transitional policies are not fully ACA-compliant; however, they must comply with state law and only specific ACA provisions regarding annual dollar limitations, pre-existing condition exclusions, waiting periods and mental health parity rules. Carriers are to provide notice at renewal informing individuals or small employers of renewal options, including the opportunity to enroll in ACA-compliant plans. CMS is permitting states to continue the extension of transitional plans through the “substantially enforcing” provision of the ACA. For further information, visit doi.idaho.gov or call 208-334-4250.
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
April 17, 2019
Vol 43 ~ Num 16
Idaho Medicaid Expansion
Last week, Governor Little signed Senate Bill 1204aa.aaH expanding Medicaid in Idaho. While there was some political opposition to the final legislation, this law will help more Idaho residents pay for healthcare services. Currently, Medicaid is limited to: those under 19 years of age and over 65, parents with children under 19, pregnant women or women diagnosed with certain cancers, and people who are blind or disabled. The new law allows legal residents of Idaho between the ages of 19 and 65 who earn less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level to apply for Medicaid ($12,500 annually for one person or about $26,000 for a family of four). Those who are receiving Medicare are not eligible. The Department of Health and Welfare is now getting ready for open enrollment, which is scheduled to start November 1st of this year. Expanded Medicaid coverage will not begin until January 1st, 2020. The one uncertainty in all of this is the Federal waivers needed to allow people to stay on the state health insurance exchange rather than going on Medicaid, and to approve the requirement for able-bodied individuals to work, attend school or volunteer at least 20 hours-a-week (there are certain exemptions). However, the bill includes language that Medicaid expansion will continue in Idaho even if the waivers don’t happen. Certain groups have threaten to challenge this law in court, claiming it should have been a “clean” approval of Proposition 2. Unfortunately, Prop 2 (as it was written) had legal problems that needed to be addressed. The Idaho Supreme Court heard the lawsuit against Prop 2 and decided it was up to the Idaho Legislature to fix those problems, not the courts. According to Republican Caucus Chair Rep. Megan Blanksma, Senate Bill 1204aa.aaH was the fiscally-responsible way to implement Medicaid expansion in Idaho. “It took a lot of listening to our constituents, a lot of collaborating with our friends in the Senate, and a lot of amendments to the final bill, but we found a plan that puts Idahoans and their priorities first.” If there are legal challenges to this law (particularly the work requirement), the result could be delayed implementation of Medicaid expansion, and those who need help paying medical bills will have to wait even longer.