Vote to protect Medicaid Expansion

Dear editor,

 This letter is in reference to the Idaho Legislatures bill proposal H138 to repeal Medicaid Expansion, which passed with a 38 to 32 vote in the House on Friday, Feb. 21, at the State House. 

 Medicaid Expansion has saved the state of Idaho an average of $80 million annually in indigent and catastrophic funds and has saved lives since it went into effect in 2019. Now our legislators want to get rid of it because they say it costs too much. The Federal Government funds 90% of Medicaid Expansion leaving the state to match only 10%. So, this is my message to our Idaho State Legislators and Governor Little.

 You claim to be pro-life, yet you would gloat and make a decision to take away Medicaid Expansion Healthcare from nearly 90,000 Idaho families? You would put rural hospitals such as Weiser Memorial Hospital out of business and have specialty clinics close from lack of funding? Stripping Washington, Adams and other rural counties across the state of local access to medical care? You would steal these services from our rural Idahoans in Weiser, Midvale, Cambridge, Indian Valley, Mesa, Council, Fruitvale and other small rural communities?  This is heartless. These are your/our communities, neighbors and friends and your constituents. They pay your way to be represented in the legislature. Think about that when you are being coerced by IFF and extreme lobbyists. 

 Vote to protect and fund Medicaid Expansion with our tax dollars. The people of Idaho spoke loud and clear in 2018 when we voted and passed Medicaid Expansion by nearly 61% of the Idaho vote. We are speaking out loud and clear again, Protect Medicaid Expansion!  

 Thank you.

Linda Strain

Weiser, Idaho