Bill spends $1.5M to restore Medicaid cuts

BOISE (AP) — A bill in the Idaho House would restore a sliver of the cuts made to Idaho's health insurance program for the poor, elderly and disabled.

State spending on Idaho's Medicaid program was reduced by roughly $35 million in the 2011 session as lawmakers worked to balance the budget in the economic downturn. A bill advanced Tuesday by the House Health and Welfare Committee spends $1.5 million in state funding to restore some of the Medicaid cuts.

Republican Rep. Janice McGeachin of Idaho Falls says the state money would result in $7 million to $8 million in federal matching funds and go toward programs that provide preventative dental services and skills training for people with mental health and developmental disabilities, among other services.

The bill now goes to the full House.