HB 165, which would permit Medicaid to pay for midwife-assisted births rather than hospital births, if the mother chooses, has passed the Senate on a 33-1 vote, and now heads to the governor's desk. Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, said the bill is estimated to save the state $100,000 in its Medicaid program, but the savings could be greater if it results in fewer caesarean deliveries; the rate of those deliveries for Medicaid-funded births is much greater than the rate for Idaho births as a whole, Broadsword said. "It is very possible that Idaho could save much more than the $100,000," she said. "This legislation gives women who are Medicaid-eligible a choice. I think it's worthy of our consideration."

Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, said, "The ladies want this - I think we should give them an option, and it would save the state a lot of money." Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, a doctor, said, "I think it's appropriate care." He noted that under the bill, midwife-assisted births would be paid 100 percent from state general funds, while physician-assisted births are funded at the usual Medicaid match rate, with federal funds paying 70 percent or more. "Even with that consideration, midwife deliveries save the state money," he said. Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, said he was concerned about that, and couldn't support the bill because of the precedent of funding services in Medicaid that must be fully state-funded; he cast the only "no" vote. The bill, which already has passed the House, now goes to the governor's desk.