Unmask the Facts is back this week to keep you in the loop about the biggest breaking news and research regarding the COVID-19 virus, the variants, and the vaccines that happened in May. In this update, we discuss the FDA’s full approval of Paxlovid, the effectiveness of bivalent vaccines, and this summer’s new COVID-19 travel guidelines. Read all about these insights and more in this month’s Unmask the Facts!
Idaho’s free and charitable clinics provide crucial access to healthcare for many Idahoans without health insurance. Free clinics are a critical part of Idaho’s safety net that utilizes a hybrid volunteer/staff model to offer patients a range of health services including management of chronic conditions, preventative health screenings, behavioral health, dental health, and more. However, they would cease to exist without the support of partnerships, donations, and most importantly our volunteers.
This National Volunteer Week, the Idaho Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (IAFCC) owes a great deal of gratitude to the dedicated volunteers that keep each of our member clinics operational. Idaho’s free clinics hosted over a thousand volunteers in 2022, many of them healthcare professionals, who spent close to 27,000 hours of their time providing care to Idahoans in need.
“Volunteers are the heart and soul of Idaho's free clinics. In our clinics, we witness neighbors helping neighbors every single day. Idaho is still a place where the spirit of generosity and commitment to community thrive,” said Mindy Hong, Executive Director of The Idaho Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.
This past year, 13 Idaho free clinics provided 18,775 patient visits, 12,830 prescriptions, and 1,648 dental fillings and extractions at no cost, all thanks to our incredible volunteers. With the help of our partners and volunteers, $6.8 million in healthcare services and goods were delivered.
Karen Scriver, IAFCC Board Member and Clinic Director for Vineyard Boise Free Clinic said, “Our volunteers' heartfelt care is as important as their skills in supporting our patients. Vineyard Boise Free Clinic has been entirely staffed by volunteers compassionately providing outstanding medical care for those in need since 2000.”
At IAFCC, we are inspired by our volunteers to work harder for our clinics and for Idahoans experiencing healthcare hardships. This National Volunteer Week, IAFCC recommits to the work of securing ongoing support for our clinics and volunteers, while bringing attention to the growing need for access to quality healthcare in our great State. At this time, IAFCC asks students, professionals, and anyone with a giving heart to consider volunteering for a free clinic. Factors such as recession, Medicaid Unwinding, and healthcare insurance churn are predicted to strain the current capacity of clinics. To learn more about how you can help, please visit https://www.idahoafcc.org/volunteer.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) recently announced that 25, 490 Idahoans lost Medicaid eligibility. Some of those individuals lost Medicaid on April 1, while the rest will lose coverage on May 1. In the coming months, many more Idahoans are expected to lose Medicaid.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states were not allowed to remove anyone from Medicaid enrollment unless they moved out of the state, asked to be removed, or died. This policy became known as continuous Medicaid enrollment or Medicaid Protection. Recent federal legislation allows states, as of April 1, to remove individuals who no longer qualify for Medicaid in a process known as Medicaid Unwinding.
The Idaho Medicaid Unwinding process began in February 2023, with mailers sent to the first group of individuals in Medicaid Protection. DHW reports that 153,837 Idahoans were in Medicaid Protection and will be re-evaluated. A total of 36,580 applications have been processed so far, with 65% of Medicaid recipients found to be ineligible. Experts estimate that 60,000 Idahoans will lose health insurance at the end of this process.
Currently, Idaho is sending letters and calling individuals in Medicaid Protection. In Idaho, all individuals who cannot be contacted for re-evaluation or who are found ineligible will lose their Medicaid benefits.
Take Action.
If you use Medicaid for your healthcare coverage, ensure Idaho has up-to-date information so you can receive notices about your benefits and any re-evaluations. Report your phone number and current address to IDHW by
Calling IDHW at 877-456-1233
Emailing MyBenefits@dhw.idaho.gov
Visiting idalink.idaho.gov
Did You lose coverage?
If you lose your coverage through this process and need access to healthcare, we can help. Idaho's free clinics are here to make sure your healthcare needs are met. There are 12 independent free clinics, with 15 locations around the state, including mobile clinics and telehealth services.
Free clinics offer a variety of services to patients at no cost, including:
diagnosis and treatment of disease
management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension
access to preventative screenings for early disease detection
access to behavioral health services
preventive and restorative dental services such as fillings and extractions
access to prescription medications
Find a free clinic near you or email us at info@idahoafcc.org