The Department of Health and Welfare’s innovative and award-winning social and community service referral website, “Live Better Idaho,” will be featured in an upcoming segment of “Informed,” a short-form documentary series that is distributed to Public Television stations in all 50 states and hosted by actor Rob Lowe. Continue reading
Idaho Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care Director Mary Sheridan received the National Rural Health Association’s 2017 President’s Award May 9 during the NRHA’s 40th annual Rural Health Conference in San Diego, where more than 800 rural health stakeholders from around the country gathered for the event.
According to the NRHA, “Sheridan exemplifies the dedication, resilience, and creativity of NRHA members, and works seamlessly with the teams she serves on to empower rural communities. She has shined in leadership and cooperative roles with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, and the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network. She always knows how to make the most of limited resources and boundless energy, and her encouragement and teamwork have had national and international impact.” Continue reading
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
For a person enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare, navigating those systems simultaneously can be a nightmare. But that is changing. Idaho Medicaid is learning from other states and implementing innovative solutions to better coordinate benefits and manage costs for people in those programs.
People who are eligible for benefits in both programs typically have more than four times the healthcare expenses than Medicare-only beneficiaries. They also have a higher prevalence of complex and chronic health conditions than the general population and must navigate two benefit systems that were not designed to work together.
Idaho Medicaid is proud to offer a coordinated health plan for most Idaho residents who are eligible and enrolled in Medicare Part A and B and full Medicaid coverage. This program, the Medicare-Medicaid Coordinated Plan (MMCP), offers one set of comprehensive benefits, one accountable entity to coordinate the navigation and delivery of services, and one care management team to develop care plans and coordinate benefits. Continue reading
