Category: Uncategorized

Supported Living Rates Set Following Comprehensive Survey

On By idhwmediaIn Medicaid, Uncategorized4 Comments

Changes to Medicaid’s supported living rates are being finalized following the completion of an intensive cost survey of Idaho providers.  This benefit pays for caregivers to support developmentally disabled adults in their own residence rather than in an institution or in a certified family home.

A group of supported living providers had previously sued the Department of Health and Welfare, contending that rates were too low to support their services.  The 9th Circuit Court enjoined the department to pay a higher rate for these services.  The Office of the Attorney General contested this case up to the United States Supreme Court, which resulted in the landmark Armstrong vs. Exceptional Child Center decision last December that established that providers do not have standing to sue states to increase their reimbursement. Continue reading “Supported Living Rates Set Following Comprehensive Survey” →

West Nile virus discovered in Ada County

On By idhwmediaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ada County became the fifth Idaho county in southwest Idaho to discover West Nile virus in mosquito pool testing this summer, providing a good reminder for people to “fight the bite” to stay healthy.

Besides the recent positive test in Ada County, the four other Idaho counties with confirmed WNV activity include Canyon, Gem, Payette and Owyhee counties. No human cases have been reported so far this year, but last year 13 human cases of West Nile infection were reported, with five people suffering from potentially serious neuroinvasive infections. A total of 15 Idaho counties detected WNV activity during 2015.

WNV is usually contracted from the bite of an infected mosquito; it is not spread from person-to-person through casual contact. Symptoms of infection often include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach, and back. In some cases the virus can cause severe illness, especially in people over the age of 50. Continue reading “West Nile virus discovered in Ada County” →

Wildfire Smoke Begins Impacting Air Quality

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Smoke from several Idaho wildfires is impacting air quality for residents of southern and central Idaho.

Smoke from the 10,000 acre Pioneer Fire north of Idaho City, is causing intermittent levels of “Unhealthy” to “Very Unhealthy” air for Idaho City and nearby communities, with smoke drifting down into the Treasure and Magic Valleys causing air quality in the “Moderate” category. The Comet Fire north of Salmon also is producing air quality in the “Moderate” category for Salmon area residents.

Older adults, infants, children and people with medical conditions such as asthma, lung disease, and heart disease are more sensitive to poor air quality and may want to take precautions when air quality is moderate or worse. People who use inhalers for asthma or other conditions should keep them close at hand. Continue reading “Wildfire Smoke Begins Impacting Air Quality” →

Most important thing you can do to keep kids safe in the water? Pay attention.

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health, UncategorizedLeave a comment

(Note: A Closer Look At Your Health airs most Tuesdays at 6:50 a.m. on KBOI News Radio 670. This is the segment from June 7.)

It’s hot, so we’re all headed to the pool later today, right? Before you go, you may want to brush up on some tips to keep you and your family safe from drowning, but also from possibly getting sick.

Let’s start with drowning. What the most important thing to do to help keep people and children safe?

Ten people drown in the U.S. every day, and many are children. The most important thing to do is to simply pay attention. About 75 percent of drownings that involve children happened because an adult failed to pay attention for less than 5 minutes. Swimmers who are struggling to breathe and keep their heads above water likely won’t be able to wave their arms or call for help in an obvious way. They’ll be concentrating on keeping their heads above water. Watching your children carefully while they swim is important so you can see if they are struggling.  Continue reading “Most important thing you can do to keep kids safe in the water? Pay attention.” →

DHW committed to helping people live independently

On By idhwmediaIn Medicaid, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The federal district court recently ruled on a lawsuit involving people with developmental disabilities who receive Medicaid funding to pay for their day-to-day living support. Medicaid’s goal is to provide people with disabilities the supports they need to live as safely and independently as possible in their community, rather than an institution.

Medicaid will pay for up to 15 services directly related to a participant’s developmental disability as well as any services for additional medical needs they may have. Developmental disability services can include such things as 24 hour care so that participants can live in their own home, therapy to help participants develop skills they need to live in the community, non-medical transportation so that they can access and integrate into the community, and other supports that ensure that their homes meet their functional needs. Continue reading “DHW committed to helping people live independently” →

Director Armstrong to present PCAP proposal to H&W committees

On By idhwmediaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Department of Health and Welfare Director Richard Armstrong will present the proposal for the Primary Care Access Program to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee this afternoon in room WW54 of the Statehouse. The meeting starts at 3 p.m., and Armstrong is expected to give his presentation at about 3:30.

He’ll also present the proposal to the House Health and Welfare Committee at 9 a.m. Wednesday in room EW20.

See his presentation slides here.

 

 

Opinion: PCAP could be a great start toward keeping more Idahoans healthy

On By idhwmediaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

By Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter

I’ve read and watched with interest in recent days as legislators, healthcare providers, community leaders, columnists, editorial boards and citizens have reacted to the Primary Care Access Plan that I unveiled January 7th.

Responses have run the gamut from “It’s not enough – just expand Medicaid” to “We shouldn’t do anything but focus on repealing Obamacare.”

Despite what seems to be an immutable impasse, it certainly is a conversation worth having, and I’m glad we are having it. But critics seem to be missing the point of the proposal that Director Dick Armstrong and his team at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare crafted specifically for Idaho. The fact is that the PCAP option – or something very much like it – is all that we can reasonably hope to achieve right now in the context of Idaho’s political environment.  Continue reading “Opinion: PCAP could be a great start toward keeping more Idahoans healthy” →

DHW begins legislative budget presentations

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The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s legislative budget presentations began this morning at 9 a.m.

Director Richard Armstrong kicked off four days of DHW appropriation recommendations with an overview of budget issues, focusing on Gov. Otter’s proposal for providing access to healthcare for people living in poverty, the Primary Care Access Program.

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DHW Director Richard Armstrong presented an overview of the department this morning in front of the Join Finance and Appropriations Committee.

DHW presentations will conclude on Thursday.

Below is a schedule for the week. Each morning, links will be added for that day’s slide presentations.  Continue reading “DHW begins legislative budget presentations” →

Gov. Otter unveils proposal for establishing a primary care access program

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Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter announced a new proposal today to connect uninsured Idaho adults living in poverty with primary healthcare and preventive services to help keep them healthy.

Subject to approval by the Legislature, the Primary Care Access Program (PCAP) is a public-private partnership that would benefit adults 19-64 years of age who have no access to health insurance coverage.

PCAP providers would assess the health of each participant and develop treatment plans to manage chronic conditions and coordinate their care through a patient-centered medical home model.

“This is an all-Idaho initiative that can improve the health and lives of 78,000 adults who have been going without basic healthcare and suffering because of it,” Gov. Otter said. “We have been struggling to find a solution for more than three years, and it has become apparent Medicaid expansion is not what Idaho wants. This is an achievable alternative that gives us total control, with no federal strings or mandates.” Continue reading “Gov. Otter unveils proposal for establishing a primary care access program” →

Holiday stress? Give yourself a break!

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The overwhelming rush in the final countdown to the holidays has begun. And from the frenzied hum throughout the Treasure Valley and especially near its shopping malls, it sounds like we’re all caught up in it. It’s time to take a minute to consider all of the simple things you can do for yourself to reduce stress and enjoy the holidays.

If you’ve made it a goal to eat healthy, the holidays can be challenging, if not impossible. Should you stick to your goal, or surrender and start again in January?

Trying to eat healthy food at this time of year can challenge anyone’s fortitude — we’re going to parties and eating out more and have less control over what is being served. Generally, you should watch your portion sizes and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. But it IS the holidays, so you should allow yourself to splurge a little bit, especially for your favorites. Just don’t overdo it.  Continue reading “Holiday stress? Give yourself a break!” →