Idahoans overwhelmingly support Medicaid Expansion

A young wife and mom, married with two delightful children, became seriously ill. She was admitted to a local hospital, but her infection worsened to the acute respiratory distress syndrome stage. She was transferred to Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene as it had the medical staff and equipment to treat her. After weeks of treatment, she recovered enough to return home. Fortunately, Medicaid Expansion covered her treatments, and the family did not walk away with a medical debt of six digits.

In 2018, the Medicaid Expansion initiative passed with 61% of Idaho voters and a majority of voters in 35 counties. In a more recent survey in 2023, 73% of Idaho voters opposed repealing Medicaid Expansion. 

Representative Vander Woude introduced House Bill 58 to repeal Medicaid Expansion. Should HB58 pass, 90,062 Idahoans will lose their access to affordable health care. These neighbors and citizens will find themselves in medical bankruptcy and making GoFundMe requests. Idaho clinics and hospitals will be forced to cut back on services with the possibility of closures. Our federal tax dollars support 90% of Medicaid Expansion. Finally, Idaho will lose $1.1 billion in funding.

I am asking you to personally email Rep. Cornel Rasor at CRasor@house.idaho.gov, Rep. Jordan Redman at JRedman@house.idaho.gov and Rep. Lori McCann at LMcCann@house.idaho.gov stating your support for Medicaid Expansion. 

VICKIE FADNESS

Lewiston