BOISE, Idaho – A campaign to pass Medicaid expansion in Idaho at the ballot box is preparing itself for a summer push. The ballot measure has hit the threshold for signatures, but supporters are still waiting to hear if they received enough signatures in at least half the state's legislative districts.

If the measure does qualify, its biggest asset could be the grassroots network that sprung up to collect signatures this spring. Emily Strizich is co-chair of Idahoans for Healthcare, a group backing the measure.

"We assumed all of these dedicated volunteers were going to be exhausted and just want to kick their feet up," she says. "But all of our volunteers have been contacting us and saying, 'What can I do next, how can I help, what do you guys need?' The people are so enthusiastic about getting involved in this and making a difference."

The health-care expansion would help about 62,000 Idahoans who make too much for Medicaid but too little to qualify for federal subsidies to help them pay for insurance. Opponents want to stay out of Obamacare, saying it will be costly for the state.

A coalition of groups supporting the measure includes the American Cancer Society's Idaho Chapter, Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, and the Consortium of Idahoans with Disabilities.

A poll by Idahoans for Healthcare found 66 percent of residents support expansion, including 53 percent of Republicans and 77 percent of Independents. Strizich agrees there is backing across the political spectrum.

"I think there is a small minority of vocal opponents to this," she notes. "What we have seen crisscrossing the state is overwhelming support for this idea - from Republicans, Independents, Democrats alike."

Strizich says Idahoans are ready to give a voice to the state's uninsured. While gathering signatures, she heard from a woman who was taking care of her grandchildren and fell into the health-care gap. When diagnosed with a serious medical condition, the woman had to decide if she would sell her house to afford medical treatment.

"Here was this woman that, her whole life, had done everything right," she adds. "She'd played by the rules of the game. And through no absolutely fault of her own, she was finding herself with this terminal diagnosis - and she fell into the gap."

The deadline for Idaho county clerks to verify signatures is June 30.


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New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill allows terminally ill people with only six months to live to use this option, with safeguards requiring two physicians' approval.

The bill's Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, D-Westchester, said despite the growing support, other hurdles lie ahead.

"Now we have what I believe, if it came to the floor, a majority. There's still a hesitation on the part of leadership. You know, we need members to assure leadership that they no longer have reservations," she said.

Other newly resolved concerns center on making sure insurance companies and doctors who don't support this aren't held liable. She's optimistic the bill will pass after nine years in the Legislature. New York would be the 11th state along with Washington, D.C. to have medical aid in dying legislation.

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director with Compassion and Choices finds the pandemic drew a vivid picture of a person's end-of-life experience. There were images of people dying on ventilators, apart from loved ones, and unable to communicate. She said people began thinking about a "good death."

"And, what is a good death is being surrounded by loved ones, having some measure of control, experiencing the touch of your loved ones, and being the one in the driver's seat," she explained.

Now people have different options for end-of-life care, each of which presents various challenges. Polls show medical aid in dying has garnered considerable support since being introduced in 2015. A 2022 Compassion and Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying professionally, although fewer support it personally.

The California State Assembly is considering a bill to require schools to have a cardiac arrest response plan. Assembly Bill 2887 would make sure schools update their safety plans to include CPR training and an automatic external defibrillator or AED onsite.

Dr. Stephen Sanko, a professor of clinical emergency medicine at USC, and a founding member of the Cardiac Arrest Survivor Alliance, is a volunteer expert for the American Heart Association. He said having a plan in place is critical.

"The American Heart Association is promoting that schools have a cardiac arrest response plan. A written protocol for what to do in order to decrease the likelihood that if somebody collapses, that they die," he said.

Two years ago, 15-year-old Cash Hennessy collapsed on the football field due to a previously unknown heart defect. Two off-duty medics in the stands gave him CPR. The school brought out its AED - but it was useless, because the batteries were dead.

Hennessy said the experience was traumatic.

"I feel blessed that I had people there for me, that could give me C-P-R. But I think about if those people weren't there and that was another kid, who knows what would have happened? Because there wouldn't have been an AED to save them," he explained.

An AED walks people through the steps to deliver a life-saving shock to a person's heart until an ambulance arrives. Studies show that 70% of kids who suffer sudden cardiac arrest at school recover if an AED is deployed correctly - whereas the survival rate for kids and adults not in the hospital is less than 12%.