Here is the latest Idaho news from The Associated Press

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State auditors say the contractor managing mental health and substance treatment for Idaho's poor has helped reduced the use of community-based rehabilitation services. And that means significantly lower Medicaid costs. In 2013, Idaho began paying Optum — a unit of UnitedHealth Group — $10.5 million a month to administer Medicaid's outpatient behavioral health services. Auditors say the three-year contract has been successful in lowering Medicaid costs.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Boise officials are considering a demand-based approach to the city's metered parking rates in the downtown area. The Idaho Statesman reports the City Council holds a public hearing today on whether to allow Boise staff to adjust the $1 per hour rate that's in place for all parking meters. Under the proposal, parking rates in the core area of downtown could rise to $1.50 for the first hour and $2.50 for a second hour of parking.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho voters seeking to change their political party affiliation before this year's presidential primary election would be up against a tight deadline under new legislation. The bill, approved by the Senate State Affairs Committee, would cut off party affiliation changes on the second Friday of February. The current deadline is March 12. Lawmakers approved moving up the presidential primary last year to March 8.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho health officials say four children are receiving treatment for severe forms of epilepsy with an experimental non-psychoactive drug derived from marijuana plants. It treats children suffering from severe epileptic seizures with the new drug — also known as Epidiolex. Health officials say another 18 children are scheduled to be screened for the program.