Idaho Legislature: Ask Legislators to VOTE NO on H0199 - Medical assistance, refugees (posted 02/12/25)

• Bill: legislature.idaho.gov/s…

• Contact Legislators (linked below):

(Check the linked page or use My Bill Tracker for the bill’s current status.)

_____________

H0199 – Refugee Medical Assistance Act in Idaho – creates a comprehensive framework for providing medical assistance to refugees and certain special immigrants.

This bill is a hard NO for several reasons:

• American taxpayers should not be funding medical care for noncitizens (even if legal refugees)

• Uses federal funds. Idaho must STOP depending on federal funds for its programs.

• Provides assistance for specified refugees. Why some refugees and not others?

• All refugee assistance should be provided by voluntary donations and nonprofits that receive NO government funding (witness the USAID debacle and corruption)

• We must repeal all Refugee Medical Assistance in Idaho, not just nibble around the edges.

Specifics:

• Defines refugees as individuals with specific immigration statuses, including those paroled, admitted as conditional entrants, admitted as refugees, granted asylum, or those with special immigration status from Afghanistan or Iraq.

• Determines eligibility for medical assistance based on income, with individuals qualifying if their countable income does not exceed 133% of the federal poverty guidelines.

• Allows those above the income threshold to "spend down" by subtracting medical costs from their income.

• Excludes refugee cash assistance and sponsor-provided income and in-kind services from income calculations when determining eligibility.

• Funded by federal sources (42 U.S.C. 1396 and 1397) and contingent upon federal funding and state spending authority.

• Nullifies existing administrative rules related to Refugee Medical Assistance on July 1, 2025.