The Division of Medicaid provides healthcare services for low-income people and families in Idaho. This includes adults and children, pregnant women, people over the age of 65, and people with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states were not allowed to remove anyone from Medicaid unless they moved out of the state, asked to be removed, or died. This was called continuous Medicaid enrollment or continuous Medicaid coverage. It was also called Medicaid Protection.

As people’s situations or incomes changed, some of the people enrolled in Medicaid are no longer qualified to get benefits. And recent federal statute allows the department to remove Idahoans who no longer qualify for Medicaid starting April 1.​

We are ready for this.

Many other states stopped doing Medicaid re-evaluations during the public health emergency. Idaho continued to do them to gauge eligibility, even though we could not remove participants who no longer qualify during the public health emergency. Of the nearly 450,000 Idahoans enrolled in Medicaid, we know that 300,000 of those enrolled are eligible.

There are about 150,000 people currently enrolled in Medicaid who either don't qualify or have not been in contact with the department during the public health emergency. Starting Feb. 1, we will send the first batch of re-evaluation notices. We will send batches of notices each month. We expect to complete the re-evaluations of these 150,000 Idahoans by September.

This is one of the fastest timelines in the country for Medicaid re-evaluations.  

If you currently receive Medicaid, please take action to make sure you receive notices about your benefits and re-evaluations. Report any changes in your household information, including your phone number and address.

If your contact information has changed, or you want to confirm your current information, call DHW at 877-456-1233 or email MyBenefits@dhw.idaho.gov. You can also report changes by visiting idalink.idaho.gov

Learn more about Medicaid Protection.

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 a former personal trainer, I had a love-hate relationship with January. The gyms were always brim-full of people working on their New Year resolutions, and I wondered how many would make it into February or March.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I failed to meet my own fitness and lifestyle goals. I put on a few pounds, isolated, and disconnected from the hobbies and activities that brought me joy.

But all these things — exercise, hobbies, activities — are related to much more than how well our jeans fit. I now work in brain health as a program manager for the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program, and my focus — and the example I want to set — is based on establishing a routine that I can maintain for the rest of my life.

Now I ask myself: At 47, how can I keep my heart healthy so my brain will maintain good cognitive abilities throughout my life? What can I do now to help me form a healthy 83-year-old brain in another 35-odd years?

So here’s what I’ve started:

• Physical activity: I’m walking to and from work again. I haven’t allowed myself to be scared away by a little drizzle or fog. If it’s icy, I walk in the underground tunnel on the state Capitol Mall during breaks and pass my co-workers with a gentle smile and hello.
• Obesity, hypertension, and diabetes: I’m trying to eat at least one veggie a day. Let’s be realistic: if you grew up as a farm girl in the Owyhees like me, then you grew up on meat and potatoes. But while it can be tough to commit to veggies, it will pay off for your body (and mind) in spades.
• Stress management: I’m learning to say “no” and keeping myself from getting overscheduled.
• Social interactions: I’m allowing myself to get together with one friend a week, so I still have time to spend with family and with myself.
• Sufficient sleep: I’m setting my phone down an hour before bedtime to allow my brain time to adjust and prepare for bed.

There are several other things I could do that allow me to take control of my brain health now, but I’m going to take it slow, build a new habit, and hopefully be able to take on new risk-reduction measures later.

Tiffany Robb is health program manager for the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program in the Division of Public Health at DHW. A self-described compassionate extrovert, she’s had a diverse career that’s included personal training, business ownership and management, teaching, research, and project management. Tiffany finds working on brain health, Alzheimer’s, and dementia an honor and a tribute to family members who have been impacted by dementia.

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

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. / Idaho Human Rights Day. As we observe the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to others, I reflect on his legacy and think about the poignant question he posed to an audience in Montgomery, Ala., in 1957: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

That makes me think of the department’s commitment to the people of Idaho. We strive to create an environment where we treat each other -- employees and the Idahoans we serve --with courtesy, respect, and dignity. We serve all Idahoans.

We value inclusion. We want employees to contribute their perspectives about how the department can meet the needs of those we serve. We want program participants to tell us their needs, to help us understand their struggles, and to share with us their successes, so that we can provide them with the services they need and help them live their best lives.

We value diversity. Our hope is that employees and the Idahoans we serve experience a sense of belonging and that they are valued for many things, including their perspectives, contributions, backgrounds, cultures, trainings, and the life experiences that shape them. We want the people we serve to feel that their needs are recognized and have been met to the best of our ability.

We value collaboration with other agencies as well as with our community partners, both in leadership and supportive roles, because we cannot do this alone.

I am very proud of the dedication and commitment DHW employees demonstrate daily in their service to the people of Idaho. We help those who are working toward self-reliance, and who need a safe place to raise their families. We help people in crisis. We touch the lives of Idahoans who need help with food, physical health, substance use disorder, behavioral health challenges, child support, vaccinations, and many other things.

Our goals could not be accomplished without each of our employees. I have seen our employees’ commitment on full display while job shadowing them. I am inspired by the work they do and the impact it makes on our fellow Idahoans.

Help is available to those who need it. Dial 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588 or text 898211 to be connected to a 2-1-1 community resource specialist 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Mountain Time) Monday through Friday. 

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. 

Did you know radon is present in many Idaho homes? The Idaho Environmental Health Program within the Division of Public Health manages the Idaho Radon Program. Below is information to separate radon facts from fiction and help keep your family healthy.

Fact: All homes should be tested for radon.

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. It enters homes through gaps or cracks in the foundation. All homes, including new builds, existing homes, and those with and without basements, can have high levels of radon gas. With more people working from home since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the risk of radon exposure may be increased as more time is spent at home. 

Testing is easy and the only way to know if you are being exposed to radon in your home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing your home every two years or after any remodeling.

 You can order a free short-term test kit from www.radonidaho.org or call the Idaho Careline at 2-1-1 or 1-800-445-8647.

Fiction: Radon is not an issue where I live.

Two out of every five homes tested in Idaho have radon levels higher than recommended. In fact, high radon levels have been found in homes located in every county in the state. To learn more about radon test results and recommended actions, visit www.radonidaho.org.  You can also view Idaho radon test results by zip code on an interactive map and order a free short-term test kit.

Fiction: Radon is not harmful to my health.

Long-term exposure to radon gas is known to cause lung cancer and is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. To learn more about the health effects of radon, visit the EPA’s Health Risk of Radon website at epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon.

Fact: Winter is the best time to test a home for radon.

Radon levels can change by season and with the weather. The highest levels of radon are found during winter months when homes get less fresh air. To learn more about radon testing and how to respond to a radon problem, visit www.radonidaho.org.

Fact: A radon problem can be fixed.

Radon mitigation systems can effectively reduce the levels of radon in a home. The Idaho Radon Program recommends hiring a nationally-certified radon professional to reduce radon in your home. To locate a radon professional, visit www.radonidaho.org.

Radon Virtual Workshops hosted this month

The Idaho Radon Program is offering a free one-hour interactive radon workshop that will explain what radon is, how it enters your home, and what you can do to help prevent excessive exposure and reduce your risk of lung cancer. To register, visit www.radonidaho.org.

• Jan. 12   2 p.m. - 3 p.m. MT, virtual online
• Jan. 15   4 p.m. - 5 p.m. MT, virtual online
• Jan. 17   4 p.m. - 5 p.m. MT, virtual online
• Jan. 23   6 p.m. - 7 p.m. MT, virtual online

Idaho Certified Radon Mitigation Incentive Program

The Idaho Radon Program is offering a $250 reimbursement for the completion of Center of Environmental Research & Technology, Inc (CERTI) Radon Measurement and Mitigation Course and 100% reimbursement for nationally approved National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) certified radon mitigation test for 20 students. Coursework and a test must be completed between Jan. 1, 2023 and June 1, 2023, and students must submit all documents for reimbursement by June 1, 2023. For more information, please visit www.radonidaho.org.

Brigitta Gruenberg is the Environmental Health Program manager in the Division of Public Health.  

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

Monday will start the first regular session of the sixty-seventh Idaho Legislature. Lawmakers and state agency personnel have been gearing-up for a full session. I have enjoyed meeting with the chairs of the Health and Welfare committees in the House and Senate to get to know them a little better before session begins. I am looking forward to working with leadership in these committees on initiatives that will strengthen the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. 

DHW personnel also have been busy responding to legislators’ inquiries and preparing information to help inform decision-making once the session begins and bills are introduced. 

Ultimately, legislators, not agencies, are responsible for setting policy and direction. State agencies have a role on the front and back ends of the process. On the front end, the role of state agencies is to provide accurate, timely information to legislators to help inform their decisions. Then, after the votes are taken and decisions are finalized, the role of state agencies on the back end is to implement those decisions.

One of the most important things the Idaho Legislature does is set the budgets for all the state agencies. It’s a big job – the 20 members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) have a steep learning curve as they prepare for, listen to, and consider presentations about all the programs and services the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) and other state agencies provide for Idahoans so they can make budget recommendations to the House and Senate.

To effectively provide services for Idahoans with complex social, economic, and health issues, DHW is organized into eight divisions, with 11 budgets, that support the work we do every day to help strengthen the health, safety, and independence of all Idahoans. 

On Jan. 17 and 18, I will present an overview and the department’s budgets to JFAC. Here’s the department’s JFAC schedule. You can watch and listen online at Idaho in Session.      

Tuesday. Jan. 17:

• 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. -- Department of Health & Welfare (Director’s overview)
• 8:45 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. Child Welfare
• 9:10 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Services for Developmentally Disabled
• 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Break
• 9:45 a.m. to 10:05 a.m. Service Integration
• 10:05 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Division of Welfare
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Division of Medicaid

Wednesday, Jan. 18:

• 8 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. Public Health Services
• 8:20 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. Domestic Violence Council
• 8:40 a.m. to 9 a.m. Developmental Disabilities Council
• 9 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. Indirect Support Services
• 9:20 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. Break
• 9:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. Licensing & Certification
• 10 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Substance Abuse Services
• 10:20 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. Mental Health Services
• 10:40 a.m. to 11 a.m. Psychiatric Hospitalizations

The House Health and Welfare Committee meets daily at 9 a.m., and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee meets Mondays through Thursdays at 3 p.m. Topics that directly relate to Health and Welfare are commonly introduced in these committees. Those meetings also can be watched at Idaho in Session.           

I am looking forward to a successful session and to working with the legislators. Together, we share a passion and commitment to the people of 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. 

The last two weeks of the year are a good time to slow down, reflect on the past year, and look forward to the year that’s about to unfold.

Our mission remains the same as we move into the new year: We’re dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. We continue to work toward healthcare that is affordable and available; to protect children and vulnerable adults; to help Idahoans be as healthy and self-sufficient as possible; and to earn and keep your trust.

I am thankful for DHW employees whose steadfast commitment makes a difference for Idahoans. They work for the department because they want Idaho to be a great place to live and raise a family. They prioritize public service and helping others. It can feel stressful and daunting sometimes, but the personal rewards are significant. The difference they make for Idahoans often leads to lasting change.

I’m also thankful for the many community partners and stakeholders who work hand-in-hand with DHW to help Idahoans live their best possible lives. These relationships are critical in meeting the needs of Idahoans. I appreciate their expertise and contributions to our great state.

I want to take a moment to wish you joy and happiness during this holiday season, no matter how you celebrate. I hope you also find joy in your successes from the past year, and I hope you look forward to more successes in the coming year.

Happy, healthy holidays!

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 holidays can be a difficult time for many – financial pressures, stress, and emotional issues can feel overwhelming.

If you’re struggling this holiday season, we can  help. The Department of Health and Welfare offers an array of services ranging from food assistance to help with a substance use disorder or mental health crisis — and a whole spectrum of services in between.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides support to Idahoans who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Dialing 988 in Idaho leads callers to the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline. Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide, mental health issues, substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress can call or text 988 all day every day. People can also dial 988 if they’re worried about a loved one who may need crisis intervention. For more information: https://call988idaho.com/

211 Idaho CareLine

The Idaho CareLine is a free, statewide community information and referral service. Simply dial 211 on your phone between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mountain Time to get in touch with a community resource specialist who can help with a wide range of programs and services, including all of the programs and services listed below. For more information about the 211 Idaho CareLine visit https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/211

Food assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Idaho Food Stamps Program, helps low-income families buy the food they need to stay healthy. Learn more by visiting https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/food-assistance/about-snap

Women, Infant, & Children (WIC) is a federally-funded supplemental nutrition program for Women, infants, and children up to the age of 5. The program’s goal is to help families by promoting healthy lifestyle choices. More about WIC: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/food-assistance/about-wic

Additional community food resources include the school lunch program, summer meal program, statewide food program, and emergency food assistance programs. For more information about, or to apply for, community food resource programs: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/food-assistance/school-lunch-program

Financial assistance

Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD) program may be able to provide cash assistance for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Those who are eligible will receive a small payment each month to help with living expenses. More information: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance/about-aabd-cash-assistance

Temporary Assistance for Families in Idaho (TAFI) provides temporary cash benefits for eligible low-income families to help pay for food, clothing, shelter, and other essentials. More information: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance/about-tafi

Home and utility assistance is also available and includes a range of programs:

• Weatherize your home: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance/home-heating-and-utility-assistance/about-weatherization
• Heating assistance: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance
• Telephone assistance: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance
• The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program helps low-income families pay their water and wastewater bills. More info: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/home-heating-and-utility-assistance/about-water-assistance

Healthcare assistance

Medicaid offers healthcare coverage for people in a variety of life situations and an array of health needs, including coverage for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. More info: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/medicaid-health

Most people with developmental disabilities live in their communities. However, when they also have complex needs that results in a crisis, there is currently limited access to effective treatment.

To address these gaps, the department is creating three new crisis system components to add to the existing system: residential, teaming, and capacity building. This new model will allow adults to access a full range of crisis care that supports them and allows them to remain in their communities whenever possible.

Residential: When treatment must be done outside of the person’s community, two new care settings are being implemented.

The first is an assessment, observation, and stabilization unit. This is for people with developmental disabilities who are in crisis and need intensive or urgent behavioral, mental health, and/or medical care.

The second setting, called step-down housing, is for those who are no longer in crisis but are not yet ready to move back into their homes in their local communities. Step-down housing will model community living. Residents will live in apartment-like units with one or two people in each unit.

Significant psychiatric, behavioral, and nursing services would also be available in this setting, but the primary focus would be to help residents grow the skills they need to successfully return home and receive services in their communities. 

This means that the state will transition away from using Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC) as a long-term residential care setting for people with developmental disabilities and instead the new care settings will focus on short-term crisis and stabilization.

Teaming: This project is creating new specialized clinical teams to support people in the community and in the new care settings when their needs cannot be met using traditional community or crisis services.

These teams will provide cross-systems planning, coordination, and emergency supports with the goal of keeping people in their communities whenever possible. These specialized clinical teams will be nationally certified in best practices and provide expert services to people in all types of care settings.

Capacity building: Increased community capacity to meet the needs of people with developmental disabilities will reduce the need for residential services. Strategies to increase capacity include:

• Creating support levels for people with exceptional needs
• Increased access to existing services
• Higher qualifications and/or training for providers
• Improved transition processes

What comes next

The department will seek approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow for Medicaid to pay for the services to support the new model.

The department also will bring a funding request to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) for a contract with Center for START Services. The request will fund a national certification to ensure adherence to best practices for the proposed teaming services. 

Then, to implement services needed for the new model, the department will engage in rule promulgation, including stakeholder feedback, and seek legislative approval.

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. 

An Ohio measles outbreak currently underway should serve as a clear reminder that it’s time to get our children caught up on vaccinations—particularly for those who may have slipped behind schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can result in severe, sometimes permanent, complications including pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death. It’s caused by a virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person and spreads easily through breathing, coughing, and sneezing.

While it’s one of the most contagious human viruses, it’s also almost entirely preventable through vaccination.

As of Tuesday, Dec. 13, the Ohio outbreak in and around Columbus had infected 74 people, most of them children who are unvaccinated (having zero doses of vaccine) or under-vaccinated (having had only one dose of a two-dose recommended vaccine). Of those cases more than half are among kids between 1 and 2 years of age, and more than a quarter of the patients required hospitalization. There have been no reported deaths.

In the United States as a whole, as of Dec. 8, 88 measles cases in five jurisdictions have been reported this year. The number is up sharply from the 49 cases reported in 2021 and 13 cases reported in 2020—and down considerably so far from the 1,274 reported in 2019 when several large outbreaks occurred in the United States.

There are currently no measles cases reported in Idaho, but it’s safe to say that public health officials are concerned. Measles anywhere is a threat everywhere, as the virus can quickly spread by infected people to multiple communities and across international borders.

Because measles is so contagious, communities should have a vaccination rate of at least 95 percent to keep the illness from spreading. Among children born during 2018 in Idaho, 93 percent had received their first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine by 24 months of age, and about 95 percent had received their first dose by 35 months of age.

However, a lower proportion of Idaho children receive their second MMR dose before entering Kindergarten and are not considered fully protected, making our vaccination rate lower than 95 percent among Idaho school-aged children.   

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned about a drop in measles vaccination coverage in children during the COVID-19 pandemic, estimating that 40 million kids missed a measles-containing vaccine in 2021, including 25 million who missed their first dose and 14.7 million who missed their second dose.

In 2021, 22 countries experienced large outbreaks that have persisted into 2022. When combined with vaccination gaps, the outbreaks pose a threat everywhere. In 2021 there were an estimated 9 million cases and 128,000 deaths from measles worldwide.

The Ohio outbreak is believed to be tied to one of four separate cases over the summer among individuals who became infected after traveling to a measles-endemic country.

The message going into the holiday season of family travel and gatherings is clear. If you have a child who is 12 months of age or older, and not up to date with their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, please make every effort to get them vaccinated as soon as possible.

Sarah Leeds is the manager of the Idaho Immunization Program  in the Division of Public Health. She has served in this position since June 2019, focusing on increasing coverage among Idahoans of both routine and COVID-19 vaccines.

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates and information you can trust.

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

I’m pleased to announce that the Department of Health and Welfare’s (DHW) publication 2022-2023 Facts, Figures, and Trends is now available online.

This reference provides a robust look at DHW – who we serve, the services we provide, and how those services are paid for. It also provides information about the department’s budget – how much it gets, how much is spent, and who and what it is spent on.

For each of the department’s eight divisions, the book covers funds approved by the Legislature for the current state fiscal year as well as highlights and work done in the previous state fiscal year.

I use it often to remind myself about a specific program or to check some data. It’s a valuable tool for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the work we do. The book is created each year by the Office of Communications, in close teamwork with all the divisions and councils.

Here are some of the highlights outlined in the book from state fiscal year 2022:

• SFY 2022 was the first full year of operation for State Hospital West, a 16-bed psychiatric facility for youth ages 12 through 17 in Nampa. State Hospital West opened in May 2021, replacing the adolescent unit at State Hospital South in Blackfoot. The new hospital allows the majority of patients to get help closer to home in the Treasure Valley. In SFY 2022, State Hospital West had 58 admissions, with an average length of stay between 50 and 60 days.
• During SFY 2022, Child and Family Services struggled to hire and keep social workers, who are critical to do the child welfare work. Bonuses, pay increases, and adjustments to working requirements were put in place to address the lack of social
  workers. Finally, more non-social worker employees were recruited to do many child welfare tasks.
• The Division of Licensing & Certification licensed 221 new facilities, homes, and agencies.
• The Division of Medicaid worked with hospitals and primary care providers to develop the Healthy Connections Value Care Program to move from traditional volume-based payments to value-based payments. Value-care organizations are responsible for controlling costs and improving health outcomes of their patients. This program went live on January 1, 2022.
• The Division of Public Health led a cross-department team to establish an Adverse Childhood Experiences Data Framework. The framework contains recommendations for sharing and using data regarding adverse childhood experiences, commonly called ACES, in a coordinated way across the department. The Division of Public Health also published two data reports showing how adverse childhood experiences impact Idahoans.
• Self-Reliance provided additional support through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to Idaho child care providers. Having safe, affordable, and high-quality child care for families throughout Idaho allows parents to go to work while children are being cared for. The Idaho Child Care Program issued more than $34 million to the Idaho Community Program Grant. This grant helped groups provide activities that support student learning, learning loss, and behavioral health supports for children ages 5-13.

I encourage to take a look at the book.

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.