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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Report Calculates Cost of "Doing Nothing" at $653 Million

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015   

BOISE, Idaho - Doing nothing comes with a price tag of $653 million for Idaho.

A new report from Idaho Voices for Children adds up the economic impact of the Legislature's inaction on the Healthy Idaho Plan.

The plan was recommended by the governor's Medicaid Redesign Workgroup as a public-private approach to accept federal Medicaid funding and extend insurance coverage to about 25,000 Idahoans.

Lauren Necochea with Idaho Voices for Children says there's no debate that the move would save the Gem State millions.

"With the high cost of inaction to our budget and to our businesses, it's difficult to understand why Idaho lawmakers have not even discussed the issue this year," says Necochea.

The $653 million represents the expenses of the State Catastrophic Health Care and County Indigent Programs, which would no longer be needed under the plan, along with new revenue from additional taxes. Resistance to the idea has largely been rooted in opposition to the Affordable Care Act, and a lack of trust federal money would come through.

Necochea says while the clock is ticking on the legislative session, the Healthy Idaho Plan could still be part of a "going home" bill. She adds the plan wouldn't just save money, but would give the state a quick financial boost - adding up to more than $1 billion by next year.

"The Healthy Idaho Plan would take advantage of dollars set aside for Idaho to close our coverage gap," she says. "And it would eliminate the need for some of our other programs that we're currently paying for with local and state dollars."

The report notes the total tax savings would be the highest in the first few years of the plan, and would let Idaho "opt out" at any time.


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