A vote to re-elect Mark Sauter as Representative for District 1 House Seat A will support women’s health and access to health care services in rural Idaho. He is driven by his commitment to represent his constituents. When Bonner General Health’s Labor and Delivery Services closed in 2023 he spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives regarding the impact of this closure. Mark Sauter is a courageous leader who routinely makes politically difficult votes because it is the right policy for his constituents.
Reinstatement of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC)
MMRCs are groups organized at the state level and tasked with reviewing the maternal deaths that transpire during or within one year of the pregnancy. MMRCs work to analyze the data in a thorough and comprehensive manner and make a number of recommendations including how those deaths can be avoided. In 2023, Idaho became the only state in the nation without an MMRC as the committee that was previously in place was sunset. Thanks to the support of Rep. Sauter, in 2024 the MMRC was reinstated when HB 399 was passed and signed into law.
12-Month Extension of Medicaid Postpartum Coverage
In 2021, the MMRC provided a key recommendation to combat maternal deaths – extend Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months. Postpartum extension removes barriers for new mothers and has been found to improve maternal mortality in other states. In March 2024 with Rep. Sauter’s support, this recommendation became law (HB 633).
Six Month Prescription Contraception
Prior to July 1, 2024, consumers could only access contraception for up to three months – a frustration that has been long shared by both physicians and patients. For more than a decade, there have been attempts to require insurance companies to increase coverage duration, ultimately saving patients money on routine appointments. Thanks to the vocal support of Rep. Mark Sauter, SB 1234 was signed into law, extending coverage for up to six months.
HB 374
Entering the 2023 Legislative Session, there was a lot of confusion among physicians as it related to Idaho’s abortion laws. While confusion remains, Rep. Sauter actively supported HB 374 which provided exceptions for ectopic or molar pregnancy, removal of a dead unborn child, and treatment of a woman who is no longer pregnant. HB 374 provided a pathway for victims of rape and incest to obtain a redacted police report within 72 hours, while also removing the affirmative defense or “guilty until proven innocent” standard physicians were held to.
Medical Residency (GME) Funding
The State of Idaho ranks next to last in physicians per capita. This especially impacts Idaho’s rural areas, like District 1. Where a physician does their residency training after medical school is a strong predictor of where they will practice. On behalf of his constituents, Mark Sauter has supported funding of Idaho’s Statewide Graduate Medical Education Strategic Plan, which supports Idaho-based residency training of family physicians, psychiatrists and general internists.
From the perspective of a long-time Idaho family physician, health policy advocate and educator, I strongly urge you to vote for Mark Sauter.
William M. Woodhouse, MD
Past-president, Idaho Academy of Family Physicians
Past-president, Idaho Medical Association
I was all in for voting for Mr. Sauter, until I received his campaign mailer in the mail last week with one outstanding bullet point: Pro Life (or fight for life), I can’t remember the exact words used (as I have since thrown it away), but he lost me on that last bullet point. I can not vote for any man who will legislate what they think is best for my body, my health and my social situation.