The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare on Friday announced it has submitted a proposal to CMS to implement a voter-approved Medicaid expansion that does not include work requirements or other restrictions recently proposed by state lawmakers, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Florida, Idaho, and Pennsylvania.
- Idaho: The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) on Friday announced it has submitted a proposal to CMS to implement a voter-approved Medicaid expansion that does not include work requirements or other restrictions recently proposed by state lawmakers. Last year, 62% of Idaho voters approved a proposal to expand Medicaid to individuals with annual incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level—an estimated 62,000 Idaho residents. In recent weeks, Idaho lawmakers have sought to limit the voter-approved Medicaid expansion, citing concerns over the costs of expanding Medicaid. However, Idaho's DHW on Friday said it submitted a Medicaid expansion proposal to CMS that aligns with the voter-approved ballot measure and does not include any of the restrictions proposed by state lawmakers (AP/Idaho Statesmen, 2/16; Brown, Post Register, 2/15).
- Florida: First Lady Melania Trump on Monday visited patients at Nicklaus Children's Hospital and helped unveil the hospital's new Morton and Linda Bouchard Healing Garden. Trump also helped open the hospital's new Esrick Dream Foundation Cardiac Intensive Care Floor (CBS Miami, 2/18).
- Pennsylvania: After a car crashed into the Arby's restaurant where Tracey Miljus and her family were eating, Miljus, a nursing manager at UPMC, jumped into action to help the driver. Miljus spoke to the driver, got the driver to turn off her car, and then looked around for anyone else who might have been hurt in the crash. Fortunately, no one was severely injured, KDKA reports (KDKA, 2/18).
Where the states stand on Medicaid expansion
The Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed states to opt of the law's Medicaid expansion, leaving each state's decision to participate in the hands of the nation's governors and state leaders.
The Daily Briefing editorial teams have been tracking where each state stands on the issue since the ruling, combing through lawmakers' statements, press releases, and media coverage. In this latest iteration of our Medicaid map, we've determined each state's position based on legislative or executive actions to expand coverage to low-income residents using ACA funding.