Senate panel advances HB 345 after hours of testimony on Medicaid managed care, work requirements and rule changes

The Idaho Senate Health & Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 345 — the Medicaid Affordability and Healthcare Access Act — to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation after more than three hours of testimony and questions from committee members.

Representative Jordan Redmond, R-Kootenai County, presented the bill to the committee, saying HB 345 aims to curb cost growth across Medicaid by introducing comprehensive managed care, limited cost sharing, provider practice-authority protections and site-neutral payments. "This bill truly does offer immediate savings to the taxpayers as well as substantial long term savings and stability to the Medicaid budget," Representative Redmond said. He told the committee the proposal removes some provisions from a prior House bill and adds reforms to the broader Medicaid program.

The bill drew extensive public comment, mostly opposed. Disability advocates, medical providers and families warned HB 345 could disrupt care for people with disabilities and seniors, jeopardize specialized waivers and add administrative burdens that would lead to coverage losses. Christine Pisani, director of the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, said, "It is…