Christy Zito — Moved to approve the minutes from January 26, 2026.
Christy Zito — The motion to approve the minutes was attributed to Senator Blaylock.
Christy Zito — Seconded the motion to approve the minutes.
Christy Zito — Was asked to get seated before proceeding.
Christy Zito — Made a motion to approve the minutes of January 27, 2026.
Christy Zito — Senator Blaylock questions the director about how the department will measure success and set concrete, quantifiable goals over time, suggesting a recovery target example to assess program integrity. He then broadens the discussion to ask how the department balances compassion in serving people’s health needs with fiscal responsibility.
Christy Zito — Senator Blaylock was referenced for providing the calculation behind the startling statistic that Medicaid recoveries amount to only about 0.05, highlighting the very low recovery percentage.
Juliet Sharon — Juliet Sharon introduced herself as the director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and asked for support for the confirmation of her gubernatorial appointment to that position.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow thanks the chair and Director Sharon, praises the director’s steady, policy-focused leadership, and then asks how the department can better promote collaboration with the disability community, emphasizing the principle of ‘nothing about us without us.’ The director responds to that question, referencing Senator Blaylock’s comments as part of the reply.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow raises concerns about the effects of the 4% rate reduction and asks about its direct impact and future implications. The response clarifies that the issue concerns provider rate reductions and notes that concerns were broad-based. Senator Wintrow then follows up, thanking the speaker and reiterating her worry that cutting rates too hard could reduce access and harm individuals, citing public comments and constituent calls and emails.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked a question after the Medicaid presentation and referenced a prior meeting with Sasha.
Melissa Wintrow — Asked for an update on a potential pharmacy co-pay and its budget offset.
Melissa Wintrow — Addressed by the witness during the exchange.
Melissa Wintrow — The speaker addresses a senator whose name appears to be transcribed incorrectly; likely a member mention, but the exact identity is uncertain.
Melissa Wintrow — The speaker references continuing discussion with the senator after the hearing.
Ms. O'Connell — Addressed directly in the follow-up question.
Ms. O'Connell — Says she will try to pull together numbers on potential savings and notes historical collection challenges with other co-pays.
Sasha — Offered as someone who could provide more detail on the modules and claims/provider enrollment piece.
Sasha — Sasha is introduced as present and available, noted as someone Senator Blaylock had met with previously, and then passed the discussion to for further response on the issue, including the pharmacy co-pay topic.
Sasha O'Connell — Identifies herself as the state Medicaid director and one of the deputy directors in the department, and confirms the planned co-pay structure.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — The director responds to the senator's question about Medicaid expansion and movement between programs.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Asks whether recovery obligations apply only to expansion members or to all Medicaid plans.