Health care task force offers modest plans

More young adults would be able to stay on their parents’ health insurance under a concept endorsed Tuesday by the the Legislature’s health care task force.

Under a plan by Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, young adults might be covered under their parents’ health insurance up to age 25 if they are declared as dependents on their parents’ tax forms.

Now, young adults can ride along on their parents’ insurance until they are 25 only if they still are in school.

Details remained to be ironed out.

In addition, the task force decided to send a proposal on licensing of health professions to the Legislature without a recommendation about whether it should become law.

Ken McClure, attorney for the Idaho Medical Association, pitched a plan that would require any medical profession that wants to be licensed by the state to present a proposal by September.

That would give lawmakers a chance to look the request over and help solve problems before lawmakers meet in January.

It’s an attempt to cut down on the high drama that has accompanied similar proposals from naturopaths, midwives and others when proposals come late in the session.

“This is a step or two better than the current system, at least the way I see the current system,” McClure told members of the task force at a meeting with about 50 onlookers. In other developments:

• Other plans delayed: The task force had bigger plans for a variety of ways to improve Idahoans’ health care, including expanding a Medicaid program — the State Children’s Health Insurance Program — that provides health insurance for children who otherwise wouldn’t qualify for help.

Those plans and others won’t happen during this year’s legislative session because money is tight and cuts in programs will dominate health-care discussions, said Sen. Dean Cameron, co-chairman of the committee.

• Mental-illness working group established: Sen. Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, reported a first step in the process of reforming Idaho’s ailing system for the sickest and poorest of Idahoans with mental illnesses.

Gov. Butch Otter signed an order establishing a work group with high-ranking state officials to present a plan to the governor by December.

Colleen LaMay: 377-6448