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.
Idaho's H 648 requires health benefit plans covering FDA-approved anticancer medications to treat oral and injected drugs equally for cost-sharing (like copays and deductibles) starting January 1, 2027. This directly affects health insurance plans sold in Idaho that cover anticancer medications, ensuring patients pay the same out-of-pocket costs regardless of whether their medication is taken orally or administered via injection. The bill does not prevent insurers from using formularies, prior authorization, or other standard coverage controls. It specifically applies to medications approved by the FDA for cancer treatment, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026, for implementation.
This bill requires Idaho-resident students receiving state-funded medical or veterinary education to sign contracts committing to practice in Idaho for specific periods. Medical students must practice full-time in Idaho for four years after obtaining a license, finishing residency, or completing a fellowship. Veterinary students starting in fall 2027 must dedicate at least 600 annual hours to agricultural animal care (cattle, sheep, goats, swine) and complete a mixed practice program. Students who fail to meet these commitments must reimburse the state for their education costs over eight years without interest, with limited exceptions for hardship. A new reimbursement fund will manage these payments and distribute incentive grants to Idaho physicians.
This bill requires all infants and newborns in Idaho to be screened for hearing loss before leaving a hospital, health care facility, or birthing facility. For births outside these settings, screening must occur within 21 days of birth. The screening must use approved methods (like otoacoustic emissions) and results must be reported to the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and Blind (IESDB) within seven days. The law is contingent on maintaining federal funding for these screenings, and would not take effect if federal support ends and state costs increase.
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 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.
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.
This bill amends Idaho law to include tribal health facilities in the process for emergency detentions of individuals with mental illness. It allows tribal police officers, physicians, or medical staff at tribal health facilities to detain a person without a court order if they are severely disabled due to mental illness or pose an imminent danger to themselves or others. The law requires that such detentions be reviewed by a court within 24 hours, and the person must be held in a medical facility (not a criminal detention unit). This change ensures tribal health facilities can provide the same emergency mental health services as non-tribal hospitals.
