Friday, March 15, 2024

A Huge Week for IMA Priorities!

But first, we have “Friends of Medicine” to support!

IMA had a successful week with many of our priorities. However, the Idaho Primary Election is on May 21st and many of our legislative allies are being attacked for positions they took to support Idaho physicians. Fortunately, there are ways we can support them, one of which is through IMPAC, IMA’s political action committee.

But we need your help – we are trying to raise $7,500 by April 1st and we are halfway there!

Contributing to IMPAC is easy. You can do so by clicking HERE or by texting the word “IMPAC” to 208-996-8776.

Every donation makes a difference and goes to support our “Friends of Medicine”. If you haven’t done so already, please consider contributing today.

Please reach out to Mike Cunnington@idmed.org or Susie@idmed.org with any questions or for technical assistance.

Thank you for your support!

More Success with GME!

On March 13, the full Senate passed HB 681 with a 23-12 vote, sending this annual IMA priority to Governor Little to be signed into law. With the Governor’s signature, GME will be funded for year seven of the ten-year GME expansion plan.

HB 681 fully funds eight new residency positions at $60,000/seat. With six additional new residents fully federally funded, there will be a total of 14 new positions in FY 2025.

As a reminder, the original funding request outlined in the Governor’s budget capped the new residents at $55,000. IMA thanks the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) for their support in funding the new positions at the level recommended in the ten-year plan.

Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) Restoration Moves Closer to Reality

Last year, Idaho became the only state in the nation without an MMRC. On March 13, legislation to restore the committee cleared its last significant hurdle passing the full Senate with a 25-10 vote. HB 399, introduced Rep. Megan Blanksma (R-Hammett), will now head to Governor Little’s desk where it is expected to be signed into law.

HB 399 will introduce a few changes to the MMRC, most noticeably relocating the agency administering the program from the Department of Health and Welfare to the Board of Medicine (BOM). There have also been a few questions regarding the investigating authority by the committee and protections for doing so. However, IMA has been assured that the BOM will do whatever it can to fulfill the intent of the legislation, which is greatly appreciated. The most important step is restoring the committee. Any limitations of the law encountered by the BOM can be corrected during the next legislative session.

6-Month Prescription Contraception Heads to Governor’s Desk

Since leaving the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee, SB 1234 has walked a legislative tight rope – first passing the full Senate with a 19-16 vote and then passing the House Business Committee by one vote. On March 11, it continued as the full House passed the legislation on the narrowest of margins with a 35-34-1 vote. Introduced by Sen. Melissa Wintrow (D-Boise) and Rep. Jack Nelsen (R-Jerome), SB 1234 has now reached the desk of Governor Little.

SB 1234 extends access to prescription contraception, requiring insurance providers to cover up to six months. Similar legislation has been introduced for more than a decade but never made it out of committee once it crossed over to the other chamber.

IMA would like to thank the bill sponsors, Sen. Melissa Wintrow and Rep. Jack Nelsen, along with all of the IMA physicians that took time out of their busy schedules to testify in support of this legislation, Dr. Abby Davids, Dr. Loren Colson and Dr. Emily Corrigan. Thank you for all your incredible work!

Support Idaho’s Needle Exchange Program

On March 14, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee held a hearing on HB 617, legislation that would repeal 2019’s Syringe and Needle Exchange Act. The bill would prohibit syringe services programs (SSPs). SSPs exchange used needles for clean ones but are also required to provide information on bloodborne diseases, testing for these diseases, SUD treatment, and opioid antagonists like Narcan.

HB 617 is now expected to be debated by the full Senate sometime next week. IMA and other public health advocates are very concerned about the harmful impacts on citizens if SSPs cease to operate in Idaho. To urge your Senator to oppose this legislation, please click HERE.

IMA’s Public Health Committee created a helpful white paper on SSPs including data showing their effectiveness. You can view their white paper by clicking HERE.

Throughout the Legislative Session, IMA monitors legislation and provides status updates every Friday. Click here to view the IMA Bill Tracker.