Health
Medication abortion rates grew 10% over the last few years, report shows
Researchers found that 63% of all abortions provided in the U.S. last year were medication abortions. There were an estimated 1,026,690 abortions — the most in over a decade — performed in the formal health care system in 2023, according to a report released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research organization. The […]
Idaho bill to require study of Idaho maternal deaths signed into law
On Monday morning, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 399 into law, authorizing the Board of Medicine— the state agency in charge of regulating physicians and surgeons— to collect and review information related to maternal deaths in Idaho. The bill also requires the board to provide the Legislature with an annual report on numbers […]
Idaho governor signs bill into law to extend contraceptive access
Update: This story has been updated to include a quote from the bill sponsor. After years of legislative attempts led by Idaho Democrats, a bill to expand contraception access in Idaho has been signed into law. On Monday morning, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1234, a bill that would require insurance companies to […]
With Idaho’s Crapo and Oregon’s Wyden working on PBM policy, partisan rancor takes a brief vacation
Here’s something that you don’t normally see in Washington – the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate Finance Committee standing side-by-side at a news conference, talking about a bill aimed to help pharmacists and patients. There was no casting of political blame, no bashing of President Joe Biden’s policies, and no disparaging comments about […]
Idaho Legislature calls for new, independent health and social services ombudsman
A bill that would create a new, independent health and social services ombudsman to hear complaints about services provided to children in foster care, protective supervision and residential treatment facilities in Idaho cleared its final legislative hurdle Monday. The Idaho House of Representatives voted 50-20 on Monday to pass Senate Bill 1380. The Idaho Senate […]
Proposed Idaho Medicaid budget would fund some new staff, provider pay raises
Legislative budget writers have drafted the budget for Medicaid, Idaho’s largest state government program, that would keep the program’s budget at roughly $4.7 billion. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, Idaho’s powerful budget writing committee also known as JFAC, on Friday approved several new spending requests recommended by Idaho Gov. Brad Little. JFAC’s Medicaid budget for fiscal […]
Idaho bill banning public funds for gender-affirming care goes to Senate
In a 4-3 vote Thursday morning, Idaho lawmakers on the Senate State Affairs Committee voted to move a bill forward that would prohibit transgender and nonbinary Idahoans enrolled in Medicaid, or state employees enrolled in the state’s insurance plan, from obtaining gender-affirming care. According to House Bill 668, public funds “shall not be used … […]
U.S. House Speaker Johnson says IVF should be protected — just not by Congress
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that it’s up to states and not Congress to preserve access to in vitro fertilization, weighing in on a growing national debate and campaign issue. “It’s not my belief that Congress needs to play a role here,” the Louisiana Republican said during a press conference at the House […]
Idaho bill expanding birth control access heads to governor’s desk
In a narrow 34-35 vote, a bill to require insurance companies to cover up to six months of supplies of contraceptives passed the Idaho House of Representatives on Monday. Senate Bill 1234 was first introduced by Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, who for several years has drafted similar legislation to make it easier for women to […]
Idaho Republican legislators revive library materials bill
Weeks after a library materials regulation bill failed by one vote in the state Senate, Idaho lawmakers on Monday quickly advanced an amended library bill that stalled earlier this session. The amended bill, now headed to the Idaho House floor, would allow children or their parents to file a legal claim against a public or […]
Here’s what Idaho legislators are weighing as they plan to set the state’s Medicaid budget
Before Idaho legislators adjourn for the year, they have to pass a balanced budget. And on Friday, the powerful Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, or JFAC, is set to take up a major piece, as it sets the budget for Medicaid, Idaho’s largest state government program. JFAC is scheduled to set a raft of other state budgets […]
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expansion, which would cover Idahoans, passes U.S. Senate
The U.S. Senate voted to expand eligibility and extend the life of a fund for people exposed to radiation by the federal government — including Idahoans downwind from nuclear testing as well as New Mexicans harmed by the first-ever nuclear test at Trinity. In a 69-30 vote, the Senate passed Senate Bill 3853, which funds […]