This law establishes a new Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund to manage federal grant money aimed at improving healthcare access in rural areas. It creates a nine-member committee to oversee how these funds are spent, ensuring projects meet specific goals and produce long-term sustainability plans. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Welfare to hire additional staff and provides nearly $300 million in funding for the 2027 fiscal year to support indirect support services. Additionally, it requires the state to report on efforts to expand the job scope for physician assistants and dental hygienists as part of the broader rural health strategy.
This bill appropriates $35.6 million to Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare for public health services in fiscal year 2027, while simultaneously reducing funding for laboratory services and health care policy initiatives. It also decreases the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions by three and mandates several reports on program outcomes, vaccine utilization, and immigration status for HIV prevention services. Although the bill was signed by the President, the Governor exercised a line-item veto on the section reducing funds for the Health Care Policy Initiatives Program.
This bill requires legislative approval for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to adjust Medicaid payment rates for Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics when their scope of services changes. It establishes a process where clinics must notify the department 60 days before implementing service changes and submit a rate adjustment application after six months of full implementation, requiring a minimum 4.5% cost increase to qualify. The legislation sets specific timelines for department review and allows clinics to appeal final rate decisions, while also repealing certain existing administrative rules effective October 1, 2026.
This bill expands Medicaid eligibility in Idaho to include adults under 65 with incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level who currently lack other coverage. It requires the state to submit necessary plan amendments to the federal government within 90 days and ensures eligibility is not delayed while waiting for federal approval. The legislation includes provisions to maintain federal funding levels and requires a review of the program if federal support decreases, while also mandating community engagement requirements by December 2026 before enrollment becomes effective.
This Idaho bill requires health insurance companies to allow patients to pay discounted cash prices for covered medical services directly to providers. When patients pay these negotiated lower prices out of pocket, the amounts count toward their insurance deductibles and annual out-of-pocket limits, provided they submit proof to their insurer. The law applies to most health plans but excludes specific types like Medicaid, Medicare supplements, dental, vision, and short-term insurance. It also ensures providers accept the cash payment as full payment and cannot bill patients or insurers for additional amounts.
This bill directs Idaho state funding from the Millennium Income Fund for fiscal year 2027 toward substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, with a specific focus on youth under 18 and high-risk adults. It appropriates $150,000 to support community-based recovery centers in several cities, defining these centers as nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost recovery services at least 25 hours per week. The legislation also clarifies that Millennium Fund money cannot be used for Medicaid claims and establishes oversight requirements, including quarterly funding distributions and mandatory reporting to ensure funds are used properly. Additionally, the bill provides extra funding to various state agencies for children's trust programs, drug policy initiatives, and youth assessment centers.
This bill allocates $200,000 from the state's General Fund to the Idaho Legislature for fiscal year 2026 to support the operations of the Medicaid Review Panel. The funding covers operating expenses from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and includes authority to carry forward any unused funds for nonrecurring expenses in the following fiscal year. The legislation also declares an emergency to allow the appropriation to take effect immediately upon passage, ensuring the panel can continue its work without interruption.
This bill appropriates $30.7 million to the Department of Health and Welfare and $250,000 to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2027 to fund assertive community treatment and peer support services. The funding comes from multiple sources, including the State-Directed Opioid Settlement Fund, the Idaho Millennium Income Fund, and federal cooperative welfare funds. The bill also allows the Department of Health and Welfare to transfer money freely between programs to support these services and permits up to $5.8 million of opioid settlement funds to be used for individuals with substance use or mental health issues who do not have opioid use disorder. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and the bill was signed into law by the Governor.
This bill clarifies that Idaho chiropractors with clinical nutrition certification may prescribe specific non-controlled medications, including certain vitamins (A, B complex, C), minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc), fluids (saline, dextrose), epinephrine, and oxygen for emergencies. It specifies these drugs must be obtained from licensed sources and administered via approved routes, while prohibiting chiropractors from compounding vitamins/minerals themselves. The law directly affects certified chiropractors in Idaho, allowing them to prescribe these items during practice without altering existing non-prescription supplement use. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, after passing unanimously in the Idaho Senate.
S 1313 creates a voluntary licensure pathway for pharmacists in Idaho to become naturopathic doctors by requiring them to complete a 160-credit-hour naturopathic program and pass a competency exam, while maintaining their existing pharmacy license. The bill amends Idaho Code to include pharmacists in the definition of "licensed naturopathic doctor" and updates committee structures to reflect this new option, including adding a pharmacist to the formulary committee. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.
