Budget committee member seeks public input on potential Medicaid cuts
Democrat on Idaho’s state budget-writing committee is hoping to get public input as members weigh potential cuts to the state’s Medicaid program.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, known as JFAC, unlike other legislative committees, does not hold public hearings where people can testify on bills.
Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, asked Friday about how committee members should go about getting input from the Idahoans who may be affected by budget decisions and potential cuts to Medicaid.
“I’m really interested in how we as a committee can do our absolute best to hear from the public about impacts in particular this budget, because of the rate decreases we’ve already seen,” Wintrow said. “So as we make those decisions going forward, we’re not just talking about big numbers and balancing black and white on pages. How do we really get at what I foresee are the devastating impacts when we do these discussions?”
Gov. Brad Little in his budget proposal called for $22 million in cuts to Medicaid, offering options for service cuts, such as dental coverage and home-and-community-based care for people with disabilities, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. Little also included in his budget about $23 million in reductions to Medicaid through an extension of the 4% doctor reimbursement cuts first approved in August in response to the projected state budget shortfall.
JFAC Co-Chair Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, said that the budget committee will hear from the chairs of the House and Senate Health and Welfare committees, which hold public hearings on bills. Budget bills are not brought through those committees.
Rep. Elaine Price, R-Coeur d’Alene, recommended “reaching out to your constituents, reading those emails. Responding to those emails will get you that picture as well.”
“That’s part of our job as a Legislature, we’re supposed to be representing our constituents,” Price said, “and if we’re not reaching out to them and reading their emails, then we’re not getting that information.”
A budget hearing in JFAC for the Division of Medicaid is scheduled for Jan. 22, and the budget will be set later in the session.
Who are the members of JFAC and the members of Health and Welfare? How do I contact them?
The Idaho Senate members of JFAC and their contact information are as follows:
Co-Chair Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle. Statehouse number: (208) 332-1334. [email protected]
Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle. Statehouse number (208) 332-1349. [email protected]
Sen. Kevin Cook, R-Idaho Falls. Statehouse (208) 332-1358. [email protected]
Sen. Carl Bjerke, R-Coeur d’Alene. Statehouse (208) 332-1421. [email protected]
Sen. Phil Hart, R-Kellogg. Statehouse (208) 332-1345. [email protected]
Sen. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins. Statehouse (208) 332-1355. [email protected]
Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, R-Twin Falls. Statehouse (208) 332-1347. [email protected]
Sen. Codi Galloway, R-Boise. Statehouse (208) 332-1407. [email protected]
Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise. Statehouse (208) 332-1425. [email protected]
Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise. Statehouse (208) 332-1339. [email protected]
The members of the Idaho House of Representatives on JFAC are:
Co-Chair Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle. Statehouse (208) 332-1057. [email protected]
Rep. Steve Miller, R-Fairfield. Statehouse (208) 332-1061. [email protected]
Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby. Statehouse (208) 332-1056. [email protected]
Rep. James Petzke, R-Meridian. Statehouse (208) 332-1043. [email protected]
Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello. Statehouse (208) 332-1079. [email protected]
Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow. Statehouse (208) 332-1175. [email protected]
Rep. Elaine Price, R-Coeur d’Alene. Statehouse (208) 332-1048. [email protected]
Rep. Chris Bruce, R-Kuna. Statehouse (208) 332-1055. [email protected]
Rep. Kyle Harris, R-Lewiston. Statehouse (208) 332-1133. [email protected]
Rep. Brooke Green, D-Boise. Statehouse (208) 332-1080. [email protected]
The co-chairs of the Health and Welfare committees are:
House Health and Welfare Committee Chair Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa. Statehouse (208) 332-1037. [email protected]
Senate Health and Welfare Chair Sen. Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree. Statehouse (208) 332-1346. [email protected]