Idaho Appeals Medicaid Reimbursement Rates

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho attorneys are requesting that the U.S. Supreme Court consider a state appeal of a lawsuit challenging Medicaid provider reimbursement rates.

Attorney General Lawrence Wasden filed the petition paperwork Wednesday on behalf of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The state's appeal requests the justices to decide on a 2009 case where five providers alleged that Idaho's Medicaid rates were too low because they were kept at 2006 reimbursement levels.

In 2011, a federal judge ruled against the state and ordered the department to raise the payments. The increased reimbursements cost the state $12 million in 2013. Department Director Richard Armstrong says the high court should determine if providers should dictate Medicaid reimbursement rates.