House committee advances bill to impose waivers, limits on Medicaid expansion amid heated public testimony

BOISE — The House Health and Welfare Committee voted 8-7 on Feb. 12 to send House Bill 138 to the full House with a due-pass recommendation after more than three hours of testimony and debate.

Rep. Jordan Redmond, the bill sponsor, told the committee the proposal aims to “restore integrity, fiscal responsibility, and self-sufficiency back into our Medicaid program.” Rep. Jordan Redmond (Representative, District 3, Kootenai County) said the bill is intended to keep Medicaid expansion in place while imposing “safeguards” meant to control growth and reduce improper payments.

Why it matters: The bill would require Idaho to secure a package of federal waivers (discussed in testimony as Section 1115 demonstration waivers and options sometimes described as "1332/1332-like" mechanisms) and put state-side limits on enrollment and duration for able-bodied adults in the Medicaid expansion population. If the listed waivers or conditions are not obtained, the bill as drafted triggers termination of the expansion program, a consequence opponents described repeatedly as an effective repeal.

What the committee heard: More than 50 people testified in person and virtually. Supporters framed the bill as a fiscally responsible reform. Michael Sandvik (self-identified, Idaho Falls) said the bill addresses long-term costs tied to untreated severe…