The House Health & Welfare Committee has opened its hearing this morning on the Idaho Health Care Plan, HB 464; that’s the Otter Administration’s dual-waiver plan. It would authorize the state to seek waivers from the federal government in order to launch the plan, which would allow about 35,000 Idahoans who now fall into a coverage gap to qualify for subsidized health insurance through the state insurance exchange, plus allow about 2,500 to 3,500 Idahoans with specific serious health conditions to transfer into Medicaid, to lower costs for the exchange plans.

“This is a significant issue that we’re going to discuss today and vote on today,” Chairman Fred Wood, R-Burley, said as he opened the hearing. You can watch live here.