Idaho is playing "catch-up" with Health Care Reform. The first meeting of the Idaho work group studying formation of a state operated Health Insurance Exchange was announced by Idaho Department of Insurance Director Bill Deal for Thursday, August 2^nd in Boise. The Idaho legislature had shunned forming a state Health Insurance Exchange previously in hopes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAACA) would be struck down by the US Supreme Court.  However, the court upheld the PPAACA on June 28, 2012.

With the Idaho legislature out of session Governor Otter has appointed twelve individuals from the public and private sectors and has tasked them with evaluating the potential impacts on Idaho if the state creates a health insurance exchange acceptable to the federal government or participation in a federally created exchange.

Working group meetings are open to the public. Those who are unable to attend in person may contact Teresa Jones at the Department of Insurance for information about teleconferencing at 208-334-4217 or via email at Teresa [dot] jones [at] doi [dot] idaho [dot] gov.

Source: Idaho Department of Insurance, News Release – July 26, 2012  Health Insurance Exchange Working Group To Meet