A bill to reduce the maximum income refugees can earn to still access a federal medical assistance program is advancing in the Idaho Legislature.
After no debate and no public testimony, the Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday advanced House Bill 199 to the full House.
The bill would decrease the maximum income refugees in Idaho can earn to remain eligible for the Refugee Medical Assistance program to 133% of the federal poverty level, down from its higher current cap of 150% of the federal poverty limit.
Under the bill, the new income cutoff for refugee medical assistance for a single person would be about $20,814 annual income, down from the $23,475 it is under the existing income cap, based on annually updated federal poverty guidelines.
The Refugee Medical Assistance program is a federally funded program that provides short-term medical coverage for refugees who aren’t eligible for Medicaid, according to the federal Office of Refugee Settlement. In the last fiscal year, Idaho spent about $1 million on the Refugee Medical Assistance program, Idaho Reports reported.
The bill’s sponsor, committee Chairman John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, said the bill is largely an effort to codify into state law agency administrative rules on the program.
Administrative rules are policies adopted by agencies, subject to legislative approval. But rules are generally easier to change than state laws.
If the bill becomes law, it would take effect July 1. The bill is not anticipated to change state revenue, or increase state or local government spending, the bill’s fiscal note says.
The 15-member House Health and Welfare Committee’s two Democrats voted against the bill.
To become law, Idaho bills must pass the House and Senate, and avoid the governor’s veto.
Idaho Capital Sun originally published this article.
