Amends and adds to existing law to expand Medicaid eligibility to certain persons.

This bill directs the Department of Health and Welfare to change their definition of Medicaid eligibility to include all individuals whose income is below 138% of the Federal Poverty level. The purpose of this legislation is to provide access to medical care for approximately 78,000 Idahoans, most of whom are employed in full time work but earn too little to obtain health insurance on Your Health Idaho, the state based health insurance exchange. This is expected to have a positive impact on the health and productivity of our citizens by increasing access to health care. It will unburden our economy by reducing bankruptcies due to uncovered medical expenses. It will reduce recidivism since many released prisoners currently have no access to medical care. Finally it will reduce government by eliminating the need for county indigent programs and the State Catastrophic Health Cost payment program.