Idaho Medicaid to be privately managed in 2029, health officials expect

Idaho health officials say it’ll take years to switch all Idaho Medicaid benefits to being managed by private companies.

Through a sweeping bill meant to cut Medicaid costs, the Idaho Legislature this year directed the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to change a range of Medicaid policies — including to pursue switching Medicaid benefits to being run by private companies.

That model, called managed care, is used widely across the country.

Right now, Idaho Medicaid already uses managed care — somewhat. But it’s more of a patchwork approach, where some services are managed by the state health department, some by managed care organizations, and some by doctors’ offices.

Shifting Idaho Medicaid to managed care will take time to do well, Idaho Medicaid Deputy Director Juliet Charron