Barriers to Coverage

SIGN ON LETTER

Dear Legislator,

We, the undersigned organizations and advocates, wish to formally voice our opposition to bureaucratic barriers to Medicaid that will prevent Idahoans from receiving the health coverage they need to take care of themselves and their families. When Proposition 2 passed, 365,107 voters supported healthcare coverage options for their fellow Idahoans who cannot afford or aren’t offered healthcare through their job, not for legislation that would create a secondary coverage gap. Recently introduced legislation to change Medicaid expansion and impose administrative hurdles to eligibility would restrict access and effectively ignore the will of Idaho’s voters.

New reporting requirements for Medicaid will prevent vulnerable citizens in every corner of the state from receiving the care they need to get and stay healthy. Medicaid makes it possible for Idahoans with medical conditions to hold steady jobs, thrive in their communities, and support their families. Taking coverage away would only make it harder for Idahoans to maintain steady and productive employment. Furthermore, proposed Medicaid restrictions would create additional layers of government bureaucracy and maintain expensive programs that could otherwise be eliminated, draining millions of dollars from the general fund every year at the expense of taxpayers.

What’s more, it would be unwise for Idaho to consider legislation that would seek to implement policies that are currently being challenged in the courts. Lawsuits could delay implementation of coverage for Idahoans, increase the cost to administer the Medicaid program and jeopardize the health of countless state residents.

When Arkansas implemented a similar proposal, only 2% of those required to report were able to meet new reporting requirements successfully. As a result, thousands of eligible Arkansas residents lost Medicaid coverage. Idaho could suffer the same consequences, with costly results.

As an alternative to unnecessary barriers to coverage, a recent poll found that 68% of Idahoans favor a less costly work promotion program, which would refer Medicaid participants to job training and education. Work promotion programs have proven successful in other states, including Montana, where program data show increased labor force participation rates among low-income households. 58% of the participants who took part in workforce training saw increased wage earnings by an average of $8,712 annually.1

As legislators, you have the chance to help Idahoans who are juggling the demands of work, caregiving, and their own health. In Idaho, we have the benefit of learning from the experiences of other states who have already expanded their Medicaid programs. We know that the most efficient, cost-effective way to implement Idaho’s new Medicaid law is to do so without adding layers of government red tape. Please reject proposed changes to the law passed overwhelmingly by Idaho voters and implement Medicaid expansion.

Sincerely,

1 Montana Department of Labor & Industry “Help-Link Program 2018 Fiscal Year Report.” http://lmi.mt.gov/Portals/193/Publications/LMI-Pubs/Spe-cial%20Reports%20and%20Studies/HELP-Link_2018Report.pdf

Close the Gap: 1607 W. Jefferson St., Boise, ID 83702

AARP Idaho

American Civil Liberties Union Idaho

American Association of University Women Idaho

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

American Lung Association

Community Justice Center of Idaho

Disability Rights Idaho

Economic Opportunity

Idaho Academy of Family Physicians

Idaho Children’s Trust Fund

Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities

Idaho Doctors and Nurses for Health Care

The Idaho Foodbank

Idaho School Boards Association

Snake River Community Health Center

Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

League of Women Voters of Idaho

Idaho Education Association

Jannus Inc

Nutrition Works

Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline

Idaho Center for Nursing

American Nurses Association of Idaho

Nurse Leaders of Idaho

Honoring Choices Idaho

Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship’s Social Justice

Council

Idaho Falls UU Fellowship Social Justice Committee

Voices On

Boise Metro Chamber

Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce

Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho

Carpenter’s Union LU 635

Idaho Federation of Families

American Heart Association

Idaho Behavioral Health Alliance

Idaho Asset Building Network

InterFaith Equality Coalition

Community Action Partnership

Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force

Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger

National Alliance on Mental Illness Idaho

Consortium of Idahoans with Disabilities

Empower Idaho

Idaho Hospital Association

United Way of Treasure Valley

United Way of South Central Idaho

Idaho Oral Health Alliance

Idaho Medical Association

Idaho Rural Health Association

The Idaho Caregiver Alliance

Close the Gap

Idaho Voices for Children

Logan Dennis Boise 83702 Carrie Scheid Idaho Falls 83404 Jessica Mahuron Coeur D Alene 83815 Christa Rowland Boise 83705 Cliff Elliott Boise 83703 Cynthia Mueller Boise 83702 Carrie CromJudy Cross Boise 83702 Deborah Silver Twin Falls 83301Frances Rosera Boise 83703Gabrielle Applequist Garden City 83714Gail LeBow Garden City 83714Gary Trakas Boise 83707 USIngrid Brudenell Cascade 83616 Vyonne Jenks Pocatello 83201Jeanette Ross

von Alten Boise 83704

Judy Halverson Boise 83705 Jennifer Wheeler Boise 83701 Karen Lansing Idaho Falls 83404 Kelly Anderson Nampa 83686 Kris Hooker Boise 83709Lisa Newcomb Driggs 83422 Lynsey W Juel Boise 83704 USMaryJo VanGerpen Moscow 83843Mary Lynn Hartwell Idaho Falls 83404Muriel Roberts Pocatello 83201Renee Magee Idaho Falls 83402Roger Howard Boise 83705Robin Sautter Boise 83704Rachel Sjoberg Boise 83712 Sam Byrd Boise 83705Susan Gooding McCall 83638Carol Ann OSB Cottonwood 83522 Stephen Weeg Pocatello 83204Susan Philley Boise 83714Sylvia Chariton Boise 83714Lisa Huey Mountain HomeLyn Stang-land

Cameron Idaho Falls 83402

Valerie Chessin Idaho Falls 83402Rev. Pamela

Mayes Idaho Falls 83404

Claudia Pine, MA Idaho Falls 83404Rachel Axtman Boise 83702Kate Ryan Boise 83702Sarah Porter Boise 83706 Elizabeth Rodgers Boise 83702 Carol Stirling Boise 83713William Brudenell Boise 83712Micaela de

Loyola-CarkinBoise 83702

Andrea Christopher Boise 83702Ashley Prince Boise 83702 Roxanne Wigglesworth Boise 83702Patricia Young Boise 83703 Laurie Durocher Boise 83712 Annette and Tim

Harker Idaho Falls 83402

Hannah McGonigal Boise 83702 James Miller Moscow 83843Cathy Sandstrom Boise 83703Judy Schmidt Idaho Falls 83401 Robert Thomas Boise 83709 Vic Allen Idaho Falls 83402 Cara Applestein Boise 83703Helene Belanger Boise 83702Amie Bruggeman Boise 83706 Catherine Carmen Boise 83703Martha Copeland Meridian 83642Paula Davis Boise 83702Theresa Fox Garden City 83714Janice Hemphill Idaho Falls 83404Chris Jansen Boise 83702 Tobey Jinkins Boise 83702Annie Kelly Boise 82702Jane Krumm Boise 83712Karen Lansing Boise 83702William Loome Boise 83702Kalle Matsuyama Meridian 83642Mary McGee Boise 83702Mary Niland Nampa 83686 Jeannie Peterson Boise 83703 Ellen Schaus Boise 83716 John Schmidt Pocatello 83201Marisue Smith Boise 83702Sarah Staller Boise 83703 chris stevens Pocatello 83204 Charles Tate Garden City 83714 Lisa Theobald Boise 83705 Sarah Toevs Boise 83705Gretchen Wissner Moscow 83843Josef Bartels Boise 83706 Ilana Shumsky Boise 83702 Robert Gehrke Pocatello 83201Michelle Britton Coeur d Alene 83816Christine Simon Boise 83703Heather Dermott Boise 83706 Roberta D’Amico Boise 83706bonnie shuster Boise 83702carl isaksen Boise 83712 Denise Caruzzi Boise 83702Lyndon Box Boise 83702 Lynne Schnupp Mccall 83638Cassandra Schikkinger Boise 83702Stephanie Hanson Boise 83702Kittie Sieh Idaho Falls 83402Rhonda Miracle Boise 83709 Josh Scholer Boise 83712 Luisa Uribe Boise 83705Mary Ruckh Boise 83706 Dena Duncan Boise 83706 Mark Nail Boise 83702 Caralea Hopingardner Boise 83705 Heather Steele Boise 83712Glenn Weyhrich Boise 83702 Sharron Oneil Boise 83703Gretchen Wissner Moscow 83843Sue Treinen Boise 83712 John Morse Moscow 83843 Sasha Pierson Boise 83712 sharon lightning Boise 83703 Andrea Gilman Boise 83702Chadia Mugisha Boise 83702 Martha Ekhoff Boise 83704Sue Jones Nampa 83651Tyler Bradley Boise 83702Anna Guida Boise 83702Sasa Milo Boise 83702Christina Bruce-Ben-

nionGarden City 83714

Kelle Sweeney Boise 83702 Ron & Cay Marquart Boise 83712

Donna Looze Boise 83706 joy fryman Coeur d’Alene 83814Susan Rickey Star 83669 Barbara Wood Boise 83705Gail Kirkpatrick Boise 83706 Jessica Richelieu Boise 83702 Cecil Gailey Twin Falls 83301 Ryann Milne-Price Boise 83702Megan Mackey Boise 83706Samantha May

Swihart Boise 83702

Leilani West Coeur d’Alene 83815Karan Tucker Boise 83703Terrell Bostick Coeur d Alene 83816 John Curtis Eagle 83616Malak Al Fatal Meridian 83646 Ashley Davis Boise 83702Brian Winters Boise 83704Kendra Knighten Boise 83716Slobodanka Hodzic Boise 83702 Gina Pannel Boise 83714Tracy Martin Pocatello 83201Heather Kimmel Boise 83702 Marianna Davis Hailey 83334Kevin McTeague Boise 83702 Molly Fay Sandpoint 83864Jon Miller Boise 83706 Jaki Waldvogel Coeur d’Alene 83814Morgan Sampson Coeur d’Alene 83815 Mary Kemp Boise 83706 Angela Miller Twin Falls 83301Elizabeth Breuker Pocatello 83209Jill Barbour Eagle 83616Luke Mayville Boise 83702Alan Rose Moscow 83843Margaret Wiggin Clark Fork 83811Joanie Fauci Boise 83702Joseph Lambert Boise 83706Meggan Gunter Sandpoint 83864 Helen Newton Sandpoint 83864Kathy Duplessis Ammon 83406Erik Jacobson Moscow 83843Janet Callen Coeur d’Alene 83815Peggy Jordan Boise 83706Linda Grimm Tetonia 83452Alice Anderson McCall 83638Randy Kyrias McCall 83638 Cynthia Brooke Middleton 83644Megan Johnson Sandpoint 83864Luana Lamkin Boise 83712Bernard Murray Garden City 83714Marsha Lutz Sandpoint 83864Lari Ryan Boise 83703 Bruce Johnson Sagle 83860Carrie Logan Sandpoint 83864John Crane Arco 83213Jani Sutherland Hailey 83333 Barbara McFarland Coeur d’Alene 83814Christine Moon Sandpoint 83864Nancy Gerth Sagle 83860sid eder Moscow 83843Jamie Shropshire Boise 83703Stephanie Bender-Kitz Boise 83716 Jim Bigelow Boise 83706Mary Bostick Moscow 83843Sandy Rainey Boise 83709 Betty Heidelberger Moscow 83843Jeannie Swenson Boise 83704Christopher Matthews Post Falls 83854Ann Giantvalley Sandpoint 83864Theresa Kaufmann Pocatello 83204Burke Hays Nampa 83686Jeffrey Klein Boise 83709Yvonne “Sam”

Sandmire Boise 83702

Daphne Stoner, Ph.D. Driggs 83422Sean Burke Moscow 83843Sandra Gore Sandpoint 83864Amy Steckel Boise 83702Maria Salazar Emmett 83617Connie Burkhart Bonner 83836Logan Finney Moscow 83843Ann McClanahan Boise 83706 sherry robinson Coeur d’Alene 83814Tess Howell Sandpoint 83864Rhonda Anderson Boise 83713Jane Arndt Sandpoint 83864Ellen Lawless Boise 83705Louise Lang Meridian 83642Amy Bistline Sandpoint 83864Savannagh Kacey Post Falls 83854Theresa Potts Coeur d’Alene 83815Adela Sussman Coeur d’Alene 83815Merry Brown-Hayes Sandpoint 83864Chet Gaede Coeur d’Alene 83814 Sharon McCahon Sandpoint 83864Carol Holmes Sandpoint 83864Dav J Hunt Coeur d’Alene 83814Jody Thoreson Sandpoint 83864 Robert Libbey Sandpoint 83864Carrie Kyrias McCall 83638Gail Chaloupka Boise 83712Eve Preus Boise 83702 Mary McGregor Moscow 83843Walter Filipowski Sandpoint 83864Mary Kruzich Boise 83716Terry Eggers Sandpoint 83864 Della Munnich Coeur d’Alene 83814Pat Fitzgerald Lewiston 83501Robert Helmick Rathdrum 83858Brenda Wilson Boise 83712Lucia Gregory Hauser 83854Thomas Welty McCall 83638Edith Welty McCall 83638Judy Wong Boise 83703 Karen McCarthy Twin Falls 83301Cynthia Perry Post Falls 83854Count Webb Victor 83455Margret Langer Caldwell 83605Mary Toland Sandpoint 83864Nita Allard Sagle 83860Billie Jo Biddle Sandpoint 83864Jean Gerth Sagle 83860 Steve Anderson Sagle 83860Dorrie Prange Salmon 83467Sandra Deutchman Sandpoint 83864Charlotte Sanderson Nampa 83651Kenneth Horner Nampa 3651Rosalind Korczyk Coeur d’Alene 83815(Archie) D’Wayne

Hodgin Moscow 83843

Melanie Edwards Idaho Falls 83402 Christine Sugg Nampa 83686

Galyn Todd, LCPC Idaho Falls 83406 Lisa Johnson Boise 83704 Kay Merica Hope 83836Pamela Brown Boise 83703Amber Tempin Boise 83703 Nirmala Sandhu Boise 83716 Maureen Marchant Boise 83702Rochelle Killett Nampa 83686 Deborah Pimentel Nampa 83686Mary Salerno Nampa 83686Janene Thomas Boise 83703 Suzanne Salerno Nampa 83686Kathryn Gosik Sagle 83860F. Merica Hope 83836Amy Benson Boise 83716Merrill Bading Boise 83703 Rachel Castor Sandpoint 83864 dale sugg Nampa 83686Barb Thorne Idaho Falls 83404 kathy gorup Hope 83836Theodore (Todd)

Achilles Sun Valley 83353

Janeth Mallory Lewiston 83501Timothy Braatz Bonners Ferry 83805Sonya Greegor Boise 83706Carol Sevier Boise 83702 Betty Van Gheluwe Boise 83706Sheila Ames Boise 83706 Jane Rohling Eagle 83616Esther Kleinkauf Boise 83704Miriam Woito Boise 83703Wanda Jennings Boise 83709Kevin Richmond Boise 83714Patricia Nakaoki Boise 83702 Teresa Wood Boise 83706 Diane Jones Boise 83703Sharon Vasel Nampa 83686James Ruckh Boise 83706Judy Farnsworth Boise 83705Ann Robertson Boise 83706Elaine Daly Garden City 83714Margo & Dennis

Proksa Pocatello 83204

Jessica Benson Boise 83706 Josh Shipley Boise 83702Barb Hair Boise 83702 Leanna Miller Boise 83709Sasa Milo Boise 83705Mike Burkett BoiseMiriam Hamm Eagle 83616Kiera MccabeLisa Sanchez Boise 83712 Amy Holly Boise 83703Leslie Thomason Boise 83704Constance Merrill Garden Valley 83622Holly Erb Meridian 83642Trina Michaels Meridian 83642 Pam piper-Ruth Boise 83702 Bob Parish Boise 83709 Patrick Nagler Boise 83712Connie Collins Boise 83705 Anabel Navarro Garden City 83714John Miller Boise 83702 Camila Barnes-

KelleyBoise 83705

Nikki Cavacero Boise 83713Donna Yule Boise 83705Deborah Jackson Nampa 83687Donna Stambaugh Post Falls 83854Susan McMillan Boise 83702 Jean Holland Nampa 83651Stephanie DeLeon Boise 83706Olivia Golightly Boise 83704 Eric Guise Boise 83703Angela Johnson Boise 83705 Jessie Callaway Caldwell 83605Giscta Zech Boise 83706 Carmel Cruck Boise 83702William Doty Boise 83702 Zach Borman Meridian 83642 Owen Hullinger Boise 83702 Caitlin Wambolt Boise 83713Mary McLaughlin Boise 83704 Phong Hym Boise 83713Ajit Rajbhandari Boise 83702Julia Christensen Boise 83709Nancy Harris Boise 83704Gissela woggon Boise 83714Diane Jensen Meridian 83642Jessamine Jones Boise 83703 Allison Maier Boise 83714 Marie Guise Boise 83703Rachel Aavany Boise 83706 Bonnie Pfaft Boise 83709 Elizabeth Montgomery Boise 83716 Katherine Wright Boise 83702 Sara Gehrig Caldwell 83605Kelli Barnes Nampa 83651Jodi Mead Boise 83702 Alice Stevenson Victor 83455 Janette Young Boise 83706Elizabeth Cogliati Idaho Falls 83404Craig J Kinghorn Idaho Falls 83404Michael Miller Shelley 83274 Cynthia Strech Idaho Falls 83402Margaret Croft Idaho Falls 83402 Cecile Perez Idaho Falls 83401Keishianna Peterson Idaho Falls 83406Seth Peterson Idaho Falls 83406Jackie Sugai Idaho Falls 83401Sue Stadler Boise 83703Mary Ann Reuter Boise 83703Jessica Dell Post Falls 83854Rhonda Winters Boise 83703 Jol Taber Boise 83703 Shon Navarro Boise 83714John BainCrystal Mcdaniel Boise 83713Nick Cavalero Boise 83713 Denise lile Boise 83709 Jainie Marjanovich Boise 83709Karen Bauer Idaho Falls 83402 Isabel Orellana--vil-

lersMeridian 83646

Barry and Sue

Cahill Meridian 83646

Kristine Wegrzyniak Mountain HomeKristy Hiatt Idaho Falls 83403 Maura Brantley Mountain Home Melissa Hagman Boise 83716 Alicia Carrasco Boise 83702 Donald Watters Idaho Falls 83404Robert Goetsch Idaho Falls 83404

Susan Rope Idaho Falls 83406Suzanne Finney Boise 84713 Cindy Logan Idaho Falls 83402Rev. Jac-queline

Ziegler Idaho Falls 83401

Kathryn Daum Idaho Falls 83404 Judee Stanley Idaho Falls 83402 Marti Agler Boise 83712 Amy Rustad Boise 83712Kristina Priest Boise 83706Mike Tyacke Salmon 83467Teresa Bateman Idaho Falls 83402Jackie Stephens Idaho Falls 83401Ronald Nitz Idaho Falls 83404Carolyn Yela Idaho Falls 83401Mary Brown Victor 83455Gordon Brown Victor 83455Anne Voilleque Idaho Falls 83402Steven Larsen Idaho Falls 83404 Louise Perotto Idaho Falls 83401Dena Duncan Boise 83706 Tom Reinhardt Cascade 83611Valerie Wright Pocatello 83201Renae Deckard Kimberly 83341Sharon Thueson Hagerman 83332THERESA GABICA Twin Falls 83301Jane Somerton Boise 83702 Chanelle Schuler Cottonwood 83522Steve Hansen McCall 83638Kimberly Stutzman Boise 83705 Gail Bray McCall 83638 Agnes Reichlin Cottonwood 83522Juan Mendez Caldwell 83607Marilyn Olson McCall 83638 Kathleen LaFortune Viola 83872David Armstrong Idaho Falls 83402Lisa Loret Idaho Falls 83402Frank McGovern Ririe 83443Rita A. Foster Idaho Falls 83401Nancy Morse Idaho Falls 83404 McKenzie Willmore Idaho Falls 83404Dennis Ballock Idaho Falls 83404Lynn MacAusland Idaho Falls 83404Leslie Smith Idaho Falls 83404Monica Blume Idaho Falls 83401Julie Tullis Idaho Falls 83401Joy Hubbell Idaho Falls 83404 Sharen Green

Peterson

Idaho Falls 83402

Katie Fritz Ammon 83406 Anne Dustin Idaho Falls 83401 Kara Cadwallader Boise 83702Chad Judy Idaho Falls 83401Cherie Stevens Idaho Falls 83402Joan Burgert Idaho Falls 83404Roberta Cartmell Idaho Falls 83404Brent Swanson Idaho Falls 83404Joel Hubbell Idaho Falls 83404 Arnie Erickson Idaho Falls 83404 Lisa Christenson Idaho Falls 83404Sharon Price Idaho Falls 83404 Jackie Larson Idaho Falls 83404 Hollis Henry Idaho Falls 83402 Tina Moore Idaho Falls 83401 Jim Farrer Idaho Falls 83404Zoe Creed Idaho Falls 83401Cheryl Zimmer Idaho Falls 83401Gayle Peters Idaho Falls 83404Steve Peters Idaho Falls 83404 Dennis Finn Idaho Falls 83402Kimberly Boyd Idaho Falls 83404Caroline Walline Idaho Falls 83401Patricia Desautel Idaho Falls 83404Dan Henry Idaho Falls 83402 Heather Layton Idaho Falls 83402Jennifer Hawkins Blackfoot 83221Blaik Hawkins Idaho Falls 83402 Lauren Hawkins Idaho Falls 83402 Lisa Burtenshaw Idaho Falls 83404Andrew & Melissa

Olson Idaho Falls 83402

Kristine Hunt Pocatello 83201Ruth Marsh Idaho Falls 83402Maggie Morris Idaho Falls 83404Gordon Morris Idaho Falls 83404Jo Rose Rigby 83442 Scott Taylor Idaho Falls 83404 Andrew Edwards Idaho Falls 83402 Ruth York Boise 83702 Megan McCarren Boise 83702 Adam Balinger Boise 83712Robert Cooper, MD Boise 83703Isabell Hatch Idaho Falls 83401Lynn Howell Ammon 83406 Lisa Stir Ammon 83406 Rolonda Bjornson Idaho Falls 83404Jerry Jayne Idaho Falls 83402Eleanor J. McLaughlin Idaho Falls 83404Yoshiko Fujita Idaho Falls 83402Brett and Elizabeth

Bowhan Idaho Falls 83404

Arthur Kull Idaho Falls 83404 Anna Kull Idaho Falls 83404John Conquergood Idaho Falls 83401Steve Zeman Idaho Falls 83404George Morrison Idaho Falls 83404Madison Hatch Idaho Falls 83401Pat Boice Idaho Falls 83406Sheri Weber Idaho Falls 83406Bruce Bjornson Idaho Falls 83404Teresa Perkins Idaho Falls 83402 Carol Jayne Idaho Falls 83402Kelli Jenkins Idaho Falls 83404Dr. David Adler, Alturas Idaho Falls 83404 Daniel Devasir-

vathamIdaho Falls 83401

Steve Jayne Idaho Falls 83402Pam Lassahn Idaho Falls 83404Bobbe Crapo Idaho Falls 83404Janet Lowry Idaho Falls 83404Miranda Marquit Idaho Falls 83402Jamon Anderson Blackfoot 83221 Diane M. Roberts Idaho Falls 83401Carolyn Abbott Idaho Falls 83402Stephanie Fryer Idaho Falls 83401Melanie Edwards, Idaho Falls 83402