The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has received federal approval for four critical Medicaid state plan amendments.
The green-light from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalizes the formal processes the department will use to work with CMS once people eligible for Medicaid expansion begin receiving services on January 1st.
The four amendments involved changes to state plan pages on eligibility, federal medical assistance percentage, and two of Idaho Medicaid’s benefit packages – the Basic Alternative Benefit Plan, and the Enhanced Alternative Benefit Plan.
In November 2018, Idaho voters passed Proposition 2 to add coverage of the adult expansion population to the state’s current roster of individuals eligible for Medicaid coverage. During the 2019 legislative session, Idaho Republican lawmakers passed a bill adding several “sideboards” to Medicaid coverage, the implementation of which requires additional CMS approval of special waivers, which are in various stages of the review and approval process.
Adults who will be newly eligible under Medicaid expansion can apply and learn more online at medicaidexpansion.idaho.gov. (Idaho Department of Health & Welfare)
