BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Child immunization data, pregnancy, postpartum, and maternal mortality rates were all discussed at the House Health and Welfare Committee today.
The first on their agenda was RS-31126, a draft on Medicaid about pregnancy and postpartum. It was held in committee as the fiscal information did not add up.
House Bill 397 was next on the agenda and moved to amend the Idaho code. The original code was an opt-in for a child's immunization data to be included in the registry and was changed to opt-out in 2010.
Representative Blanksma shared her experience with the change, saying she had chosen to opt out with her children in the early 2000s. After the code changed to opt-in, she could not keep her children out.
She also said adult data was recorded within the last few years, and her mother's immunizations were recorded without permission.
Testimony included opposition regarding the bill, with many saying it would be inconvenient to provide opt-out paperwork to parents and that it would be difficult to disclose the use of shared data to every parent. After a brief discussion in the committee, the bill was moved to the Senate with a do-pass recommendation.
House Bill 399 was the last on the agenda for the committee. It addressed the maternal mortality rate. The bill would authorize the Idaho Board of Medicine to collect and review information on maternal deaths. The Board would also have to report its annual findings to the legislature.
During open testimony, speakers supported the bill, commenting on the data's impact on prevention. The only questions were about patient and doctor confidentiality and how the Board would be funded.
The funding question was answered as the Board would rely on existing funds within the Board of Medicine to finance the reporting. The bill was also passed with a do-pass recommendation.
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