Lawmakers hope changes to the Idaho fund that pays medical bills of the indigent will prevent taxpayers from covering ill-advised, costly procedures like weight-loss surgery for an obese woman who subsequently died.
Budget writers on Tuesday set an $18.3 million Idaho Catastrophic Health Care Fund budget for fiscal year 2011. That’s less than the $33.8 million total the fund got this year. And budget writers expect they’ll have to kick in extra money come January, when the 2011 Legislature begins.
But the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee members are optimistic the effects of a 2009 law will soon kick in to contain costs – by matching potential beneficiaries with appropriate services; moving Idaho to the payer of last resort; and making sure only necessary treatments are covered. (AP)
