Idaho Gov. Brad Little has recommended cutting Medicaid dental services in order to save the state money, the Idaho Capital Sun reported Jan. 14.
Six notes:
1. Idaho is facing multimillion dollar budget shortfalls, including a $40 million shortfall for this fiscal year, and a more than $500 million shortfall for the next fiscal year.
2. The state already passed a Medicaid cost-cutting bill in 2025, and it is also facing federal budget cuts from President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
3. Gov. Little is calling for $45 million in total cuts to Medicaid, which would include cutting Medicaid dental coverage for adults and people with disabilities.
4. Lori Wolff, budget director for the state’s financial management division, recently told the state budget committee that many of Gov. Little’s recommendations would require changing state policy.
5. Hillarie Matlock, policy director for Idaho Voices for Children, warned that Medicaid cuts would lead to increased costs for the state in the future.
6. Idaho previously cut Medicaid dental coverage for adults in 2011, but restored them in 2018 after seeing increased costs for emergency room visits.
