MEDICAID: Do your duty

Governor Little and members of the Idaho Legislature, please enact Medicaid expansion as passed by the voters — simply, easily and without any more red tape.

Idaho could have expanded Medicaid in 2014, along with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Idahoans waited — 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 — the Legislature and Governor Otter did not act.

62,000 low to moderate income Idahoans waited, suffered and some died because of government failure to act. $500 million per year, ($2 billion over four years) of Idaho taxpayer money was sent to Washington instead of being kept in Idaho to expand Medicaid, support rural health care and fuel the local economy. $50 million per year ($200 million over four years) in state and local tax dollars was spent trying to cover Idahoans without health insurance piecemeal.

In 2018, Idahoans got tired of waiting. They developed a grassroots statewide campaign to put Medicaid on the ballot; it passed with 62 percent support. As someone involved in that campaign, the attempts by the Freedom Foundation and a few members of the Legislature to slow and complicate Medicaid expansion are exasperating and profoundly disappointing.

Idahoans have spoken. We want Medicaid expansion without delay. Please implement as passed by your constituents.

CHRIS STROH

Donnelly