Idaho Bills

Adds to and amends existing law to implement the Idaho Accountable Community Care Act.

This legislation will bring down the cost of health care for all Idahoans by increasing access to health care and increasing accountability. The Accountable Community Care Policy is designed to reduce health care costs for all Idahoans, regardless of their health, income or geographical location, by creating better outcomes for patients and establishing accountability in the health care system. The plan is built around three key components – addressing Idaho's doctor shortage, ensuring health insurers, pharmaceutical companies and hospitals are held accountable and ensuringthereisquality, coordinatedhealthcareservicesavailabletoIdaho'sMedicaidpopulationandthose who fall in the gap. ThislegislationwillincreasethenumberoffamilymedicineresidencyslotsinIdaho. Thiswillhelpincrease the number of primary doctors we have in the future. However, to help fill the immediate need the state is experiencing, the Accountable Community Care Policy will create a loan forgiveness program to help community health centers recruit doctors. This will help incentivize doctors to serve in rural parts of the state and also build the infrastructure for residency programs down the road. To keep costs down and hold hospitals accountable, this legislation will direct hospitals to help patients find a primary care home when appropriate instead of continuing costly emergency room visits. More accountability will also be added for health insurers and pharmaceutical companies. Patient accountability is also included, taking the form of coaching and needed resources to help them take an active role in their health. Finally, this legislation creates a program that will serve those who are currently receiving Medicaid or part ofthegappopulation. Throughdirectprimarycare,andsubjecttofunding,peoplewithoutcoverageinIdaho will be able to establish care at a medical home with care coordination and management. The program will also move Medicaid enrollees into locally controlled coordinated care contracts.