JFAC approves Medicaid supplementals, ongoing enhancements including hospital assessment and MMIS funding

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on an affirmative roll-call vote approved a package of fiscal-year 2025 supplementals and a set of fiscal-year 2026 enhancements for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Medicaid.

Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told the committee the FY2025 supplemental motion grouped multiple items to expedite action and cover accrued costs. "This is a federal requirement," Williamson said of the managed care external quality review, referencing a required review for Idaho’s managed care organizations.

The measures approved on the supplemental motion included a one-time $1.35 million for the managed care external quality review; payments tied to system-configuration and implementation costs for the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan; an updated FY2025 Medicaid forecast request of $113,849,300 to cover higher-than-anticipated entitlement costs; a $108,821,400 capitation-rate increase for the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan; and $77,243,700 in dedicated funds related to a hospital assessment mechanism that allows the state to draw additional federal funds under an updated upper-payment-limit calculation. Senator Wintrow moved the FY2025 supplemental package and Representative Handy seconded the motion. Committee summaries recorded the Senate vote at 7 ayes and 3 nays and the House members present at 6 ayes, 3 nays, with 1 member absent or excused; the motion was reported to go forward as a bill…