In June, I resumed my summer tradition of traveling to various locations in Idaho to visit DHW’s incredible staff. This is my favorite part of my job, and I’m consistently awed by the talent, dedication, and compassion exhibited by the people who choose to work here.

During my recent travels, I visited DHW offices in eastern Idaho, and more recently in North Idaho at our offices in Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, and Lewiston.

Job shadowing with the talented, passionate people who work in diverse positions and programs is an invaluable experience for me. It provides me with the opportunity to meet our staff, but also gives me a deeper understanding of the daily operations at DHW. I may be DHW’s director, but our employees are my teachers.

Meeting DHW’s staff keeps me grounded in what actually goes on every day at DHW. More important, it helps me do my job, which is to do everything I can to help the people who work at DHW be successful in the important work they do serving Idahoans.

As I saw firsthand during my visits, the impact of DHW's work on the lives of individuals and families cannot be overstated. Witnessing the real difference being made every day is inspiring.

These visits also afford the welcomed opportunity to connect with some of the people we serve. Meeting them face-to-face and listening to their stories further reinforces the significance of the life-changing work being carried out, whether in one of our offices or within the confines of their own homes.

My experiences during these visits reaffirm my belief in the importance of DHW's mission and the dedication of its staff. The passion and commitment demonstrated by our team continues to motivate me to give my best to support their efforts as they make a positive impact the lives of countless individuals and families across Idaho.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend! 

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

Historical mine sites and ghost towns provide a unique recreational opportunity to explore a fascinating part of Idaho’s heritage. The buildings and structures are historical artifacts, and many are privately owned. Awareness of potential health and safety risks at these sites will keep your family safe during your visit.

Lead and other metals at historical mines

Idaho has about 9,000 mining-related contaminated sites. Historical mining areas can have high levels of lead and other metals in waste rock, tailing piles, soil, sediment, water, and historical buildings. Contaminated soil and dust can be unknowingly tracked into vehicles or homes after recreating in areas with mining history. Lead from soil can enter the body by breathing contaminated dust or when hands or other objects covered with dust are put into the mouth.  
Health effects of lead

Exposure to lead can be harmful to everyone but is most dangerous to children and pregnant women. Lead in the body can seriously harm a child’s health and cause effects such as:

• Damage to the brain and nervous system
• Slowed growth and development
• Learning and behavior problems
• Anemia and kidney damage
• Increased blood pressure, especially in middle-aged or older people

Protect yourself and others from lead and other metals

• Keep hands clean by washing them with soap and potable water or wipes before eating or drinking. Discard any food if it is dropped onto the ground.
• Do not allow children to dig or play in the dirt (e.g., bare soil, muddy areas, mine waste piles).  
• Wash children’s toys with potable water after playing outside.
• Avoid interaction between children and dirty, dusty pets.
• When riding ATVs, motorcycles, and bikes off-road go slowly, and do not create dust. Avoid inhaling dust by wearing a mask or face covering.  
• Do not disturb mine waste piles and soil throughout the area.
• Do not camp or recreate on historic mining areas, structures, or waste piles. Take off shoes before entering a camper or tent.  
• Before returning home, dust or wash all used items. If you are unable to clean items before returning home, store them in a designated area away from clean items.  All clothes should be washed separately from other laundry. 
• Consider getting a blood lead test if you or your family have been recreating in a mine site known to contain lead. Talk to you doctor. 

Other hazards to consider 

Every year dozens of people are injured or killed in accidents at historic mine sites. Hazards around an abandoned mine are not always obvious. Stay out of active or closed mine sites and consider these hazards:

• Lack of oxygen or the presence of deadly gases can be present in abandoned mines. You could come across pockets of methane, carbon monoxide, or other gases that displace oxygen and can cause muscles to stop responding normally, impair thinking, or cause unconsciousness or death.  
• Open shafts or vertical mine openings can extend hundreds of feet to the lowest level of a mine. The open shafts can be hidden by mine debris, dirt, rock, or water.  
• Open shafts of horizontal mine openings can extend for miles in which there is no light, making it easy to become lost or disoriented. Support beams and framework can be decayed or gone, making it easy for mining tunnels to collapse.  
• Old explosives or chemicals can be found in mines and become unstable over time. They can explode spontaneously.  
• Historical buildings are not stable and often have hazards such as lead-based paint, broken frames, unforeseen animal dangers, and hazardous chemicals.

STAY OUT AND STAY ALIVE!

Additional Resources:

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Environmental Health: Lead | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality: Mining in Idaho | Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mines | US Forest Service (usda.gov)

U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety Administration: Stay Out - Stay Alive | Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)

Idaho Geological Survey: Idaho Geological Survey - Inactive & Abandoned Mines (idahogeology.org)

Kelly Berg is an Environmental Health Program Specialist for the Department of Health and Welfare.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening Idahoans' health, safety, and independence. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

I am pleased to announce the completion of DHW’s new five-year Strategic Plan, a living document that DHW leadership updates each year on the cusp of the new state fiscal year, which renewed July 1.

This year we’re rolling out a new goal to focus on recruiting new employees and retaining the many outstanding employees we have. This new goal integrates with the three goals from our previous Strategic Plan update. Specifically, they are:

• Goal 1: Become an employer of choice for current and future DHW employees
• Goal 2: Protect children, youth and vulnerable adults
• Goal 3: Help Idahoans become as healthy and self-sufficient as possible
• Goal 4: Strengthen trust and confidence in DHW

The Strategic Plan guides the work done every day by dedicated staff throughout the department and focuses on the big ideas we will collectively turn into reality over the next five years. Our plan helps the department organize and continue transformative, long-term work as all eight of our divisions also face day-to-day demands and challenges.

The plan is organized by the previously mentioned four goals, each with supporting objectives and tasks. Following are highlights focusing on the plan’s strategic objectives:

Goal 1: Become an employer of choice for current and future DHW employees

• Use engagement surveys and employee feedback to improve the employee experience.
• Reduce the department’s employee turnover rate.

Goal 2: Protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults

• Ensure children who have experienced abuse or neglect, who can be served safely in their homes, receive preventative in-home services.
• Implement the Youth Empowerment Services Implementation plan and the Idaho Behavioral Health Council strategic action plan to improve the behavioral healthcare system in Idaho so that children, youth and their families and adults get the services they need, when they need them.
• Implement three new crisis system components for adults with developmental disabilities so they can access a full continuum of crisis care that supports them to remain in communities when possible.
• Engage in collaborative activities for seniors that support access to services and improve their well-being.

Goal 3: Help Idahoans become as healthy and self-sufficient as possible

• Reduce Idaho’s suicide rate from 23.8 to fewer than 19 per 100,000.
• Address health disparities in Idaho communities by implementing at least three strategies that focus on the social determinants of health.
• Prevent or reduce the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) across the lifespan of Idahoans by creating a coordinated DHW program delivery framework.
• Develop and implement cross-divisional initiatives to help reduce healthcare workforce shortages.
• Evaluate opportunities to limit Medicaid spending growth through legislatively proposed and approved cost-containment strategies.

Goal 4: Strengthen trust and confidence in DHW

• Enhance public health and safety by improving the effectiveness and visibility of regulatory activities, reducing regulatory burden, and improving stakeholder engagement in these processes.
• Strengthen the trust and confidence of those we serve, the media, employees, legislators, and other stakeholders through communication and customer experience strategies.
• Mature our resources management strategies related to money, people, physical space, and technology, ensuring resources are allocated in ways that best serve the people of Idaho.

Read the plan in full at the DHW website. Also, throughout the year, I’ll post updates about our collective work to meet these goals and objectives here on the DHW blog.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend!

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

As temperatures increase, so does the likelihood of a cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom (cyanoHAB). CyanoHABs are caused by cyanobacteria, and the toxins they produce are harmful to humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife. CyanoHABs can change and increase rapidly if conditions are right. They favor warm water, sunlight, and specific nutrients in the water. These blooms can last throughout the summer into fall.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) samples and analyzes Idaho water bodies for cyanoHABs. The test results are provided to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) and local public health districts, and they decide if a health advisory should be issued. For information on advisories, visit the DHW’s Idaho Recreational Water Advisories map for more information.

The severity of symptoms depends on how a person or animal was exposed, how long they were exposed, and the toxin type.

Health effects for people

Exposure to cyanobacteria and their toxins makes people sick. People are exposed by swimming in or swallowing contaminated water and breathing in tiny droplets in the air that contain toxins. Symptoms include skin irritation or rashes, blisters, lung irritation, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting; and they can lead to liver, kidney, and nervous system damage.

Health effects for pets (animals, livestock, and wildlife)

Pets are most often exposed by drinking and swallowing contaminated water and licking the toxins off their fur. The fur of animals can collect a large amount of toxin, making it very dangerous for pets. Symptoms include excess drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, foaming at the mouth, jaundice, blood in urine or dark urine, stumbling, abdominal tenderness, and loss of appetite.

How to protect yourself, your family, and your pets

Not all cyanoHABs are visible, and not all bodies of water are sampled. Therefore, the public is not always notified of all blooms throughout the state or the toxins they might be producing. When planning recreational activities in any body of water in Idaho, visit the DEQ and DHW websites for information, and always use caution by doing the following:

• If the water smells bad, looks foamy or thick (like paint was spilled into the water), appears scummy, blue-green, or brownish-red in color, stay out.
• If an advisory is posted, keep yourself, family, and pets out of the water.  

If an advisory is in place:

• Avoid swimming, wading, or other contact with the water. Take extra care to ensure children do not drink or get the water on them.
• Ensure pets and livestock do not drink or go into the water. If they have contact with the water, clean skin, hide, or fur with clean water right away.
• Do not drink or cook with the water. Boiling or filtering the water does not remove the toxins and can increase the risk of becoming sick.
• Wash hands thoroughly in clean water after handling fish or objects from the water.
• If you choose to eat fish from the water, clean and wash fish thoroughly in uncontaminated water. Filet the fish, and remove all fat, skin, and internal organs before cooking. Cyanotoxins can build up in fish, and the risk to people is unknown.
• Watch for symptoms. If you touch or swim in the water or breathe in water droplets, you might experience a rash, hives, red eyes, wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath. If you swallow the water, you might have stomach pain, diarrhea, or vomiting. You might have a headache, muscle weakness, or dizziness. If your liver is damaged, your skin might turn yellow, and you will have dark urine. If you think you might be sick from cyanotoxin, consult your healthcare provider or call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Notify algae@deq.idaho.gov.
• Monitor media reports and DHW’s website for health advisories.

As a general rule for anglers, swimmers, dog walkers, and anyone eager to jump into their favorite body of water, if a health advisory is in place, it should not be considered free and clear until that advisory is removed from the Idaho Recreational Water Health Advisories map.

The bottom line for Idaho’s waterways is that cyanobacteria will not immediately disappear with cold weather and will remain in the surface water for long periods of time. You are likely to see green patches of water until Idaho’s rivers and lakes ice over.

Report a bloom

• DEQ Online form
• By phone: (866) 671-5385
• By email: algae@deq.idaho.gov

More resources

• Idaho Recreational Water Health Advisories: https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/recreational-water-health-advisories
• Fishing during a harmful cyanobacterial bloom: https://publicdocuments.dhw.idaho.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=19754&dbid=0&repo=PUBLIC-DOCUMENTS
• Idaho Department of Health and Welfare FAQ about harmful algal blooms: https://publicdocuments.dhw.idaho.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=22995&dbid=0&repo=PUBLIC-DOCUMENTS
• CDC resources about harmful algal blooms: https://www.cdc.gov/habs/index.html
• Idaho Department of Environmental Quality about harmful algal blooms: https://www.deq.idaho.gov/water-quality/surface-water/cyanobacteria-harmful-algal-blooms/

Dr. Drew Pendleton serves as State Toxicologist for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. He was born and raised in Arlington, Texas and went to college at Texas A&M University in College Station, where he earned his B.S. in Bioenvironmental Sciences, an MPH in Environmental Health, and a PhD in Toxicology. Dr. Pendleton began working for DHW in October 2021 while completing his PhD studies and moved to Boise in January 2022. He serves the citizens of Idaho in many ways such as health education, site assessment, community outreach, and advising the public of environmental health risks.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

During the pandemic, federal law required that states continue Medicaid coverage for all members. Exceptions could be made if they died, moved out of state, or asked to be removed. As a result, 153,857 Idahoans were enrolled in Medicaid despite eligibility not being confirmed within the past year.

Federal law changed earlier this year. Since February, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has been contacting these Medicaid Protection members to review eligibility. So far, 93,531 re-evaluations have been processed. 26,190 members remain eligible. 67,341 are ineligible and have been referred to the state’s health insurance marketplace, Your Health Idaho.

The number of people ineligible for Medicaid rose sharply in June. That is because June 1 was when the first procedural closures occurred. A procedural closure happens when the Medicaid member fails to respond within 60 days.

Written notification is sent to Medicaid members whose eligibility ends due to a procedural closure. If you received a closure notice yet suspect you may still qualify for Medicaid, please do one of the following:

• Visit idalink.idaho.gov
• Call 877-456-1233
• Email MyBenefits@dhw.idaho.gov

The department expects to continue processing Medicaid Protection re-evaluations until fall.

Medicaid Protection re-evaluation data is updated by 5 p.m. each Monday at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/medicaidprotection.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

The Ada County Weed, Pest, and Mosquito Abatement agency reported the first 2023 detection of West Nile virus (WNV) in samples of mosquitoes found in the Ada County city of Meridian on June 14 and 15. Mosquito abatement personnel were sent to the area to initiate control measures.

The risk of acquiring the WNV infection from mosquitoes will remain elevated throughout the state until a killing frost arrives in the fall, eliminating the mosquito-associated risk. It is important for people to protect themselves from mosquitoes, particularly between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Tips to avoid mosquito bites include:

• Cover exposed skin when outdoors and apply DEET or other EPA-approved insect repellent to exposed skin and clothing. Carefully follow instructions on the product label.
• Insect-proof your home by repairing or replacing worn or damaged screens. 
• Reduce standing water around homes and properties. Check and drain toys, trays, and pots that are outdoors and can hold water.
• Change bird baths, static decorative ponds, and animal water tanks weekly to reduce suitable mosquito habitat.

During most WNV seasons, infected mosquitoes are typically detected starting in early July. However, during some years, positive mosquitoes have been detected as early as the last week of May and as late as the third week of August. Although it is hard to predict if this will be a year with lots of WNV in the community, the detection of virus this early is a warning to take precautions now and avoid mosquito bites.

West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes, people, and horses are predominantly found in communities in south and southwest Idaho. However, the virus has been detected statewide since it was first found in the state in 2003.

Every year the risk for acquiring WNV increases throughout the summer months as Culex mosquito populations thrive. Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens are the most likely mosquito species to carry and transmit WNV in Idaho, and public health officials fully expect to find additional WNV-positive mosquitos throughout the state this summer.

WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and not spread from person-to-person through casual contact. Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash.

Infection can result in severe illness, especially in people 50 years of age and older. If you feel ill and think you had a mosquito bite, talk to your healthcare provider about testing for WNV.

WNV does not typically affect domestic animals, like dogs and cats, but can cause severe illness in horses and some species of birds. Although there is no vaccine for people, there are vaccines for horses, which should be given annually.

For more information about WNV, please visit http://westnile.idaho.gov.

Ada County Weed, Pest, and Mosquito Abatement https://adacounty.id.gov/weedpestmosquito/.

What about ticks and tick-borne diseases?

Spring and summer also kick off tick season in Idaho. Ticks can also transmit diseases, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, and tularemia. Lyme disease is rare in Idaho and generally occurs in people who traveled to parts of the country where it’s common.

The best way to protect from tick-borne illness is similar to preventing mosquito bites: cover exposed skin when outdoors, use DEET or other EPA-approved insect repellents that include tick protection, and insect-proof your home. Also check for and remove ticks from your clothing, body, hair, and pets before coming inside. You can also talk with your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets. Ticks can easily hitch a ride on your pet and end up in your home.

Most tick-borne diseases found in Idaho cause a fever, and some can cause a rash. For those with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, symptoms can include fevers and chills, headaches, confusion, and a rash that may begin a few days after the other symptoms start.

To learn more about tularemia and tick-borne relapsing fever visit these CDC websites: https://www.cdc.gov/tularemia/index.html and https://www.cdc.gov/relapsing-fever/index.html

Leslie Tengelsen, PhD, DVM, is the state public health veterinarian in the Division of Public Health. She has worked for the department since 1998 and focuses on zoonotic disease prevention.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

Idahoans gathered in Nampa on Wednesday, June 14, to celebrate a multi-phase, multi-tiered project that is improving the system of care at the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center, a state-run facility for people with developmental disabilities.

Called SWITC, the state-run facility offers crisis care for individuals with complex behavioral needs. Its mission is to “support individuals in crisis to become stable, develop skills, and successfully transition to the community.”

SWITC staff and project managers hosted the Wednesday open house to feature the Developmental Disabilities Crisis System Improvement Project, which includes enhancing community-based services, on-campus services for SWITC residents, razing outdated infrastructure, and building needed new facilities.

When complete, the Crisis System Improvement Project will improve the crisis system of care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, particularly those who also have co-occurring medical conditions or co-occurring mental health conditions.

SWITC residents, department staff, legislators, and advocacy groups attended to learn about project milestones and phases. Many took advantage of the opportunity to tour the campus and see active demolition of old, unused campus buildings.

The four-phase demolition project is projected to be complete in December of this year. Project managers expect ensuing construction to be complete in 2025 or 2026. The Crisis System Improvement Project is focused on building the capacity of community-based providers, creating specialized clinical teams with expertise in complex cases, and implementing a new care model at SWITC.

Specific accomplishments highlighted at the Wednesday open house include:

• Securing a contract with the National Center for START Services. The contract will help Idaho become certified in a national best-practice crisis prevention and response model.  Learn more about START services here:  https://centerforstartservices.org/START-Model.
• Full implementation of P.E.R.M.A. at SWITC campus. PERMA is a person-centered, wholistic, positive psychology approach to treatment and well-being. The approach emphasizes positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments—the concepts from which the acronym is derived.
• Medicaid State Plan Amendments. Idaho Medicaid submitted two state plan amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  If approved, the amendments will enable Medicaid to fund services that would support future crisis prevention and response services, both in the community and at SWITC.
• Demolition of Unused Buildings on SWITC Campus. The most outwardly visible change at SWITC involves demolition of eight buildings on SWITC campus. Buildings slated for demolition are old, unused structures that are damaged beyond repair. An architectural feasibility study determined it would not be cost effective to remodel the buildings. The new care model will feature construction of a new assessment and observation unit and a small number of step-down apartments to assist residents to transition back to community-based living.

The Developmental Disabilities Crisis System Improvement Project is expected to conclude in 2025 or 2026.  Please direct questions about the project to DDCSIP@dhw.idaho.gov.

Chad Cardwell is deputy division administrator for Family and Community Services. He’s worked with DHW for 33 years and has been helping to oversee the Crisis System Improvement Project.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening Idahoans' health, safety, and independence. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of air pollutants that are unhealthy for anyone to breathe but are especially dangerous for people in sensitive groups such as children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with heart or respiratory conditions. It is important for every Idahoan to understand the risk of poor air quality from smoke before a wildfire and what to do if air becomes smoky. 

Know your risk

The risk of fine particle-related health effects varies throughout a lifetime. Risk is generally higher during childhood, lower in young adulthood, and the risk grows as we age. People with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions should be particularly diligent about limiting exposure to wildfire smoke.

For more information about people who are sensitive to air quality and most at risk for negative health impacts from wildfire smoke, visit the links below.

• People with asthma and other respiratory diseases
• People with cardiovascular disease
• Children (< 18 years of age)
• Pregnant women
• Older adults
• People of low socio-economic status
• Outdoor workers

Common effects of smoke exposure include irritated eyes, nose, and throat. You should call your healthcare provider immediately if you have shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, headaches, fatigue, or a combination of these symptoms that worsen.

Limit smoke exposure

When air quality conditions are poor, reduce the amount of time spent outdoors and limit outdoor activities as much as possible. Pay attention to local air quality reports and health warnings. Real-time air monitoring information is available at https://airquality.deq.idaho.gov/home/map.  

The most effective way to reduce exposure is to stay indoors with windows and doors closed. . If temperatures are high and you don't have air conditioning, go someplace that does, like the mall or library.  If you must drive in an area with smoky air, keep all windows closed and turn the vehicle airflow to recirculate to reduce the amount of smoke in the vehicle.

While indoors:

• Keep your windows and doors closed.
• Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution (e.g., burn candles, use propane or wood-burning stoves, aerosol sprays, smoke tobacco products, vacuum) .
• Use portable air cleaners to reduce indoor air pollution.
• Use damp cloths or mops to trap dust and particles that settle on surfaces.
• Adjust your central air conditioning system to prevent indoor air pollution.
• Use an air filter rated MERV 13 or higher and turn the system fan on.
• If the system brings fresh air into the home, ensure it is operating in recirculation mode, including closing the fresh-air intake to prevent outdoor spoke from getting inside.
• Change system filters more frequently, as they may become clogged or dirty.

People who must be outside in the smoky air can use "particulate respirators" or N95 respirators to reduce smoke exposure. Respirator masks worn correctly can provide some protection by filtering out fine particles in the smoke.

A good respirator mask seal suctions the mask to your face during inhalation. It should also be easy to breathe while wearing the mask. The mask should create a breathing space by resting far away from the face to help reduce tightness or difficulty breathing that snug-fitting masks can produce.

The fit is particularly important for masks used during outdoor exercise or when used during long periods, such as in jobs that require being outside.

Be informed

The resources below have up-to-date information on smoke conditions and how to stay healthy during wildfire smoke events:

• Idaho Health and Welfare Wildfire Smoke
• Air Quality Index
• AirNow
• Guide for Staying Healthy During Wildfire Smoke
• Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Smoke Information and Map
• Washington State Department of Health Wildfire Smoke and Face Masks
• Reduce Your Smoke Exposure
• Protecting Your Lungs from Wildfire Smoke and Ash

Carolee Cooper is an Environmental Health Program Specialist for the Department of Health and Welfare.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening Idahoans' health, safety, and independence. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

Idaho’s Infant Toddler Program is not well known, but the work it does for children ages birth to 3 years who have developmental delays or disabilities is life-changing.

Children who take part in early childhood education programs such as the Infant Toddler Program grow up to be more likely to graduate from high school and have higher incomes, less dependence on public programs, and fewer encounters with the criminal justice system because they often have their issues resolved.

The Infant Toddler Program offers an array of therapeutic, educational, and supportive services that may include developmental therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, service coordination, family training, and coaching.

The program uses evidence-based principles to help families support their child's learning at home, during daily routines. A lead therapist works with the parent or primary caregiver by sharing expertise, developing in-home strategies, and using coaching principals to meet the child’s developmental needs. This empowers the parent or caregiver to independently meet their child’s needs every day in their home or in the community between visits from the Infant Toddler Program. This is when learning naturally occurs.

The program, which served more than 4,200 Idaho children last year, is free for Idaho families who are referred to the program. It is paid for through private insurance for families who have it, Medicaid, and federal and state funds.

The program is growing -- enrollment increased 14.3% in the last five years. That means some families are currently on wait lists. This is concerning for us because timely access to quality early intervention services improves delayed skills for many children. As a child grows, delayed skills become more difficult to change. To help reduce the wait list, we’re exploring additional options and recruitment efforts for some positions that are difficult to fill, and using tele-therapy when it’s appropriate.

Learn more about the program, including how to make a referral at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/about-infant-toddler-program

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

With all the news around Medicaid Protection, I wanted to take a few minutes to offer some information about who Idaho Medicaid serves across the state. Idaho Medicaid staff is working hard to provide about 425,000 vulnerable Idahoans, many of whom are children, with affordable healthcare when they don’t have other options. Medicaid serves about 40% of all the children in Idaho.

Medicaid is the main way in Idaho and nationally that home and community based services and behavioral health services are paid for. It plays an important role in keeping Idahoans safe, healthy, productive, and thriving in their communities.

To be eligible, a person must be a resident of Idaho and either a U.S. citizen or a qualified legal non-citizen.

Once those requirements are met, there are two ways someone can be eligible: based on income or based on age and disability. Eligibility requirements are typically reviewed annually.

1. For income-based eligibility, adults must have income below 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit. For a family of four, this is $3,450 a month. Children must be below 190 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit.
2. Medicaid also is available to people who are 65 years old or are blind or disabled. They must meet income and resource limits based on disability and other factors.

Medicaid administers three plans for adults and children.

The basic plan

The basic plan is for people who are in good health and don’t generally have disabilities or special health needs. This plan provides health, prevention, and wellness benefits. It  includes the expansion population.

• Number of adults in this plan: 34,351
• Number of adults in this plan under Medicaid expansion: 134,538
• Number of children in this plan: 179,464

The enhanced plan

The enhanced plan is for people with more complex health needs and medical conditions, disabilities, or special health needs, and for those over the age of 65. The plan provides all the basic plan benefits, plus developmental disability services, children’s service coordination, and long-term care supports. This plan includes home and community based services through waivers for aged and disabled people and those with a developmental disability.

• Number of adults in this plan: 18,689
• Number of children in this plan: 26,877

The Medicare-Medicaid Coordinated Plan

The Medicare-Medicaid Coordinated plan (MMCP) is for people who are eligible and enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. This plan provides enhanced plan benefits, plus enrollment in a managed care plan to help coordinate Medicare and Medicaid benefits. These people also have access to a care coordinator.

• Number of adults in this plan: 31,598
• Number of children in this plan: None

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.