This bill creates a Medicaid exemption from prior approval requirements for healthcare providers who mentor medical students. Practitioners in family medicine, psychiatry, or OB/GYN qualify if they provide 360+ hours of preceptorship (with 60% in rural/underserved areas) to graduate students at Idaho institutions. Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare verifies hours and grants a 12-month exemption starting the next calendar year. The exemption is limited to 100 providers per specialty annually and may be revoked if claims fail risk-based quality reviews.
This bill appropriates $35.7 million to Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare for public health services in fiscal year 2027, while reducing the budget for laboratory services by $78,400 and cutting three full-time equivalent positions. The funding covers physical health services, immunization programs, and disease prevention efforts including suicide prevention, HIV surveillance, and hepatitis monitoring. The legislation requires the department to submit annual reports by December 31, 2026, detailing outcomes and return on investment for these programs. The bill also mandates a specific report on vaccine utilization rates and cost savings from the Immunization Assessment Fund.
This bill updates Idaho Medicaid rules to increase transparency and oversight of payments to healthcare providers, particularly those serving people with disabilities. It establishes specific payment rates based on Medicare equivalents for most services, requires annual cost surveys with audits for residential habilitation providers, and mandates that providers spend allocated funds on direct care worker wages or face potential penalties. The legislation also introduces value-based payment options for certain providers, sets reimbursement percentages for different hospital types, and requires the state to reduce general fund spending on hospital payments by specified amounts. Additionally, it declares certain existing administrative rules null and void as of July 1, 2026, and requires all future provider rate changes to receive legislative approval through the budget process.
This bill expands exemptions for newborn health screenings in Idaho. It allows parents or guardians to opt out based on religious, philosophical, or conscientious beliefs (previously only religious objections were permitted), or by providing a physician's certification that screenings would endanger the child's health. The change directly affects parents seeking exemptions for infants' required screenings under current law. It takes effect July 1, 2026, after passing unanimously in the Idaho Senate.
H 793 revises Idaho's beer excise tax revenue distribution, affecting state funds and the beer industry. It increases the portion of low-alcohol beer tax revenue (≤5% ABV) going to the substance abuse treatment fund from 12% to 20%, while allocating 33% to the Idaho law enforcement fund (with 60% dedicated to the Project Choice program) and the remainder to the general fund. For high-alcohol beer (>5% ABV), it temporarily adjusts funding to hop growers and wine producers (1.5%/3.5% in 2022-2023, rising to 5%/1.5% permanently from 2024), with the rest going to the general fund. The bill removes obsolete language and takes effect July 1, 2026.
This Idaho bill (H 787) establishes a new licensing framework for podiatrists by creating Chapter 6 of Title 54 in the Idaho Code. It requires all podiatrists to hold a state license, mandating completion of a U.S./Canadian podiatry school, a 24-month residency (with 12 surgical months), passing national exams, and background checks. Practicing without a license becomes a felony, and the State Board of Medicine gains authority to oversee licensing, discipline violations (like criminal convictions or fraud), and enforce continuing education requirements (30 hours every two years). The law directly affects podiatrists seeking to practice in Idaho and ensures standardized qualifications for foot and leg care.
This bill (H 491) expands legal protection for people who provide emergency first aid without compensation. It ensures individuals offering good-faith first aid - including mental health or suicide crisis support - in accidents or emergencies cannot be sued for civil damages, unless proven grossly negligent. The immunity ends when care is transferred to a hospital, medical professional, or ambulance staff. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all Idaho residents receiving such aid.
This bill formally approves most temporary and pending rules from the Idaho Department of Insurance and the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses for the 2026 legislative session. The House Business Committee reviewed these rules and approved them with one exception: the Building Safety rules (IDAPA 24.39.30) were not approved. Additionally, the bill allows one specific pending rule regarding short-term health insurance coverage to become effective at the end of the legislative session. This procedural measure streamlines the legislative review process for administrative rules without changing the actual content of the regulations themselves.
H 724 establishes specific safety rights for children in Idaho foster care, including the right to a safe environment, freedom from abuse, timely medical assessments, and consideration of safety during placement changes. The bill requires the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to provide a written notice of these rights to each child at initial placement, placement changes, and annually, with foster homes required to post the notice. These rights must be addressed within existing court proceedings for foster care cases but do not create new legal claims or enforcement mechanisms. The law aims to ensure foster children’s safety through clear, accessible protections already integrated into current foster care processes.
This bill changes how Idaho pays counties for housing state prisoners in county jails. Counties will now receive $80 per day for the first seven days of each inmate's stay (up from $55), then $75 daily thereafter. The state must also cover all medical/dental costs for these inmates, and counties must bill the state every 60 days with payment due within 60 days. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, as an emergency measure.
