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Idaho Senate Committee Rejects Medicaid Expansion Work Requirements

An Idaho Senate committee today [Wednesday] rejected a bill that would have required Medicaid recipients to work at least 20 hours a week for their benefits.

The Health and Welfare Committee voted seven-to-two after a brief hearing.

The bill had moved quickly through the House last week, passing 45-to-25 on Thursday, just two days after it was introduced in committee.

The bill is a response to the Medicaid expansion initiative approved by voters last November.

Supporters of the bill say the restrictions they’re proposing will allow the state to expand Medicaid in a fiscally responsible manner. Opponents say the bill’s sponsor continually changed his estimates for how much money the state government would have to spend to administer the work program.