Jordan Redman — Explained a possible hospital rate-reduction approach and said CMS approval is being sought.
Jordan Redman — Was asked to explain how many hospitals might qualify as being in a strong financial position.
Jordan Redman — Asked Representative Wheeler for the dollar amount associated with the proposed cuts.
Jordan Redman — Representative Redman agreed with concerns about repeated provider cuts, saying they can harm patients and push providers out. He continued that cutting providers does not benefit patients and may force providers to leave Medicaid, then tied the discussion to managed care as the current law of the land and the need to move forward efficiently to preserve services.
Jordan Redman — The speaker referenced Representative Kaler; this appears to be a transcription error for a member name, but no clear match is certain from the provided list.
Rob Beiswenger — Questioned whether putting information online contradicts the goal of reducing administrative burden.
Rob Beiswenger — Raised the possibility of work requirements and auditing concerns in Medicaid expansion discussions.
Dori Healey — Representative Dori Healey first asked whether only physicians could submit prior authorization requests in peer-to-peer reviews, then commented that the physician-only language should be reconsidered because it could lead to denials for her patients. Later, she was referenced in a separate Medicaid-related discussion with the Director of Medicaid and in a budget idea discussion with Redman, indicating her involvement in ongoing Medicaid policy and budget conversations.
David Leavitt — Responded to questions about how the department was asked to identify hospitals in strong financial positions and explained that payer mix affects profitability.
David Leavitt — Raised concerns about cuts affecting disability programs and referenced House Bill 138 as a prior effort to address federal spending.
David Leavitt — The transcript appears to misrecognize the next speaker as 'Representative Rebel' and 'Mr. Sherman'; context suggests a member is responding to Wheeler's budget comments.
David Leavitt — The transcript appears to misattribute the next speaker as 'Representative Furman'; context suggests a member is being addressed or speaking about auditing and Medicaid spending.
David Leavitt — Referenced as having pointed to other areas for long-term efficiencies.
David Leavitt — His suggestion to revisit House Bill 138 was endorsed.
Lori McCann — Representative McCann is introduced and then thanks the chair and JFAC for the opportunity to review the budgets, noting that there is no excess funding to cut from disability programs.
Lori McCann — Representative McCann noted that Representative Erickson’s remarks highlighted the need for an evidence-based tool, and added that providers and people working on the ground are already developing such a tool for ResHab.
Lori McCann — The speaker twice referenced Representative Lori McCann’s figures, including a cited $726-per-day cost, using her numbers as part of the discussion.
Charlie Shepherd — Referenced as part of the discussion about finding better ways to cut and bridge the budget gap.
Charlie Shepherd — Asked a question about managed care and then spoke in support of protecting disability services.
Jaron Crane — Representative Furman is repeatedly referenced in a discussion praising his idea of a 15% annual evaluation and citing him as someone who has suggested looking at efficiencies and improvements.
Marco Erickson — Took the floor and thanked the chair for extra time to study the budget.
Marco Erickson — Referenced as having spoken earlier and prompted the speaker's memory.
Tanya Burgoyne — Took the floor to clarify that the 4% provider cut was not made by the legislature.
Jack Nelsen — Said he took on the youth safety and permanency review budget task and reviewed it with a budget analyst.
James Petzke — Representative Kaler delivered a continuous budget analysis covering the extended foster care program, noting the initial cost projection of about $420,500 and that only six youth were participating beyond age 21, which he argued could mean roughly half a million dollars in potential savings if House Bill 245 were repealed. He then shifted to staffing levels in the Youth Safety and Permanency Division, comparing the governor’s requested FTP increase with prior appropriations and recommending a return to 434 FTPs as a way to reduce spending. Kaler next addressed health insurance and benefit costs, contrasting the agency’s requested increase with the governor’s recommendation, estimating savings of about $801,000, and arguing that the requested benefit growth was far above 2020 levels. He closed by discussing employer-paid benefits, referencing labor data, and recommending that the line item be aligned more closely with industry standards.
Monti Pro — Sent an email clarifying how many youth are currently in the program.
HB582 — House Bill 245 is discussed as the legislation that established or expanded the extended foster care program, and the conversation turns to whether repealing the bill could generate savings. The bill is referenced repeatedly as the source of the program and the basis for the savings calculation.
Heather Scott — Representative Healy thanked the chair and committee, then discussed therapy services and prior authorization. He said he had heard concerns about cuts to physical and occupational therapy but noted those services had not been cut. He argued that Medicaid should use a prior authorization approach more like private insurance and called for a better, more efficient process, saying he had ideas to share.
Faye Thompson — Welcomed back to the committee.
Faye Thompson — Said dipping into reserves is kicking the can down the road and should not be used to avoid solving the problem.
Megan Egbert — Moved to approve the minutes from February 2, 2026.
Megan Egbert — Representative Megan Egbert asked for clarification during the budget discussion, specifically about hospital financial thresholds and positions, and was then addressed again as part of the same exchange.
Megan Egbert — Representative Egbert thanked the chair, said she would speak off script based on what she was hearing, noted that the committee agrees on much of the issue, and praised the committee’s work. She then argued that cutting Medicaid expansion would cost the state about $20 million and that the effects are already well understood, criticizing the dismissal of deferred costs and urging the committee to use evidence-based, outcome-based budgeting.
Josh Wheeler — Josh Wheeler introduced and presented RS 33180, the Idaho Prior Authorization Reform Act, and then responded to questions about its intent and effects. He explained that the bill is meant to reduce administrative burden, especially for small and rural providers, and clarified that it was not intended to limit submissions to physicians only, noting that the language may need further review.
Josh Wheeler — Representative Josh Wheeler said some optional Medicaid services should be trimmed or cut, and then followed up by saying he has the numbers to support those proposed cuts and can provide them.
Josh Wheeler — The speaker references Representative Wheeler's point about the budget cuts.
Josh Wheeler — Cited as someone who suggested looking at efficiencies and improvements.
Jordan Redman — Made a motion to introduce RS 33180.
Jordan Redman — Prepared to discuss budget ideas and legislative direction.
Jordan Redman — Described discussions with the Director of Medicaid about possible hospital budget rate reductions.