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Idaho’s postpartum Medicaid expansion live; agency appeals federal decision on coverage after elective abortion
Summary
The department said Idaho’s postpartum state plan amendment is active, with about 2,800 women covered so far. Officials said the federal government rejected part of Idaho's approach to coverage after elective abortion and the state has filed an administrative appeal with a hearing set.
Department officials told the appropriations committee that Idaho’s extended postpartum Medicaid coverage is operational and that roughly 2,800 women have received services under the state plan amendment.
“How many women have benefited?” Representative Price asked; Director Alex Adams answered that about 2,800 women have used the postpartum coverage. Adams said the Biden administration rejected part of Idaho’s proposed limitation that would have aligned coverage eligibility with state abortion law; the department has appealed that decision and was granted a hearing in early April.
Adams said the state’s appeal was filed on Jan. 20 and that the hearing was scheduled at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The committee was not provided a federal ruling during the hearing. Members asked for a breakdown of what postpartum services are covered and whether the department could provide detail about coverage for Idaho residents who travel out of state for services; Williamson and Adams offered to follow up with those details to committee staff.
The department characterized the postpartum coverage as fully live and operational while the federal appeal proceeds. No formal committee action was taken during the hearing.
