BHC Intermountain Hospital, Inc. v. Ada County, 150 Idaho 93

I.C. § 66-327(a) governs who pays costs of commitment and care for involuntarily hospitalized mentally ill patients.
John Doe, an indigent Ada County resident, incurred $7,023.61 in Intermountain Hospital during February 2008 treatment.
Magistrate court held Ada County responsible and limited reimbursement to the Medicaid rate under chapter 35, title 31.
Intermountain appealed, arguing §66-327(a) sets full reimbursement, not the Medicaid rate.
District court affirmed the magistrate’s ruling applying the Medicaid rate; appeal proceeded after a stay linked to another BHC case.
Court held that the reimbursement rate is determined by §66-327(a) itself and not limited by chapter 35, title 31.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Does §66-327(a) set full reimbursement by the responsible party?	Intermountain: full amount owed by patient or county, not Medicaid rate.	Ada County: Medicaid rate governs amount due under chapter 35, title 31.	§66-327(a) controls the rate; not limited by chapter 35, title 31.
What is the meaning of the reference to chapter 35, title 31 in §66-327(a)?	Reference guides indigency and county of residence only.	Reference also controls rate payable by county.	Reference relates to indigency and residency, not the reimbursement rate.

Gibson v. Ada County, 142 Idaho 746 (2006) (statutory interpretation framework; plain meaning and legislative intent examined)
State v. Hensley, 187 P.3d 1227 (2008) (statutory interpretation and ambiguity analysis)
State v. Yzaguirre, 163 P.3d 1183 (2007) (ambiguity requires legislative intent; analyze language and policy)
In re Daniel W., 183 P.3d 765 (2008) (referencing related statutes; incorporation limits)