Healthcare

signed · Idaho · House Apr 2, 2026

H 928: MERIT-BASED HEALTH CARE – Adds to existing law to establish the Merit-Based Health Care Act.

This bill establishes the Merit-Based Health Care Act in Idaho, which requires health care providers participating in Medicaid to base employment and contracting decisions on individual merit and professional qualifications rather than ideological or discriminatory practices. The law specifically prohibits the use of state Medicaid funds to support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, bias training, or other policies that consider race or sex in hiring, promotion, or compensation decisions. Providers must comply with these requirements as a condition of their Medicaid agreements, and violations can result in civil penalties ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 depending on the size of the organization and the number of violations. The bill also includes a limited private right of action allowing health care professionals to sue if they face retaliation for refusing to participate in prohibited DEI conduct.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts Medicaid funding for DEI initiatives and mandates merit-based hiring, limiting inclusive healthcare practices and diversity programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

in committee · Idaho · House Mar 23, 2026

HCR 37: RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION FUNDS – States findings of the Legislature and calls on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee and the State Treasurer to return rural health transformation funds to the United States Treasury.

This concurrent resolution asks state officials to reject and return approximately $1 billion in federal Rural Health Transformation funds to the U.S. Treasury. The bill states that Idaho does not need to accept these funds and encourages the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee not to appropriate any money for the program. It also urges the State Treasurer to return any funds already received to the federal government. The resolution argues that accepting the money would increase healthcare costs without improving rural health outcomes.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill seeks to reject and return federal health transformation funds, effectively defunding a healthcare program and reducing state budget allocation for rural health services.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill seeks to reject and return federal healthcare funding, effectively defunding rural health transformation programs.95% confidence

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signed · Idaho · House Mar 20, 2026

H 591: INDIGENT ELIGIBILITY – Repeals existing law related to financial assistance eligibility.

H 591 repeals Idaho Code Section 31-3502, which previously defined eligibility criteria for financial assistance programs. This change directly affects individuals seeking state financial aid who would have been evaluated under the repealed law. The bill removes the existing eligibility rules but does not establish new requirements or programs. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, as declared an emergency.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals health financial assistance eligibility rules without new requirements, likely disrupting access to healthcare programs and limiting patient access.80% confidence

in committee · Idaho · House Feb 3, 2026

H 572: PEDIATRIC SECRETIVE TRANSITIONS PARENTAL RIGHTS ACT – Adds to existing law to establish the Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act.

Idaho's H 572, the "Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act," prohibits healthcare providers, schools, and child care entities from facilitating a minor's medical or social gender transition without parental consent. It defines "sex transition procedures" to include puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery (excluding medically necessary treatments for intersex conditions), while "social transition" covers nonmedical changes like name or pronoun use. Covered entities must inform parents about a child's interest in transition and obtain their written consent before facilitating any transition. Violations allow parents to sue for $50,000+ in statutory damages, injunctive relief, or attorney fees, and the state attorney general can seek additional penalties. The bill applies to children under 18 who are not married or emancipated.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts healthcare providers from administering gender transition treatments (puberty blockers, hormones) to minors without parental consent, limiting access to specific medical services related to gender care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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in committee · Idaho · Senate Mar 30, 2026

S 1346: IMMUNIZATIONS – Adds to existing law to establish a moratorium on certain uses of human gene therapy products.

This Idaho bill (S 1346) establishes a two-year moratorium on using human gene therapy products for immunizations in children under 18 and pregnant women. It directly affects healthcare providers and manufacturers who administer such therapies for infectious diseases, prohibiting all routes of administration under this category. Key provisions define "human gene therapy products" broadly (including modified cells and genetic materials) but exclude cancer treatments, genetic disorder therapies, and approved clinical trials. The moratorium requires legislative review of safety data before renewal and includes specific exemptions for compassionate use or clinical trials. The bill aims to pause experimental gene-based immunizations pending safety evaluation.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts gene therapy for immunizations in children/pregnant women, prohibiting administration routes under healthcare provision, directly limiting medical treatment access.90% confidence

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signed · Idaho · Senate Mar 18, 2026

S 1331: APPROPRIATIONS – Rescissions – Relates to reducing the appropriation for fiscal year 2026.

Idaho's S 1331 reduces state funding for education programs in fiscal year 2026 by $22.3 million from the Public School Income Fund and transfers money to the General Fund. It directly affects public schools (teachers and student support), Idaho's universities (including Boise State, Idaho State, and the University of Idaho), community colleges, and education programs like medical residencies and career technical education. Key mechanisms include cutting specific budget line items (e.g., $5.4 million for Boise State University, $1.8 million for student administrators), reducing authorized staff positions, and reallocating funds. The bill declares an emergency to expedite these fiscal adjustments.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly cuts $22.3M from education funding (Public School Income Fund) to General Fund, defunding essential programs including public schools and universities.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationReduces education funding by $22.3M from Public School Income Fund, directly cutting support for schools and universities per bill summary.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill cuts $22.3M from education, including medical residencies (healthcare training), defunding a healthcare program.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Career & Technical Education Higher Education

signed · Idaho · Senate Mar 30, 2026

S 1316: HEALTH AND SAFETY – Amends existing law to revise provisions for exemptions for certain tests for infants and newborns.

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.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExpands exemptions for newborn screenings beyond religious objections, reducing mandatory health checks and limiting public health program compliance for infants.90% confidence

in committee · Idaho · House Feb 3, 2026

H 574: MEDICAL MANDATES – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding medical mandates.

H 574 repeals Idaho's existing immunization laws and establishes new rules to prevent local governments and schools from requiring medical interventions like vaccines. It prohibits political subdivisions (counties, cities) and schools from mandating medical procedures or restricting access to facilities based on a person's refusal of such interventions. The bill also creates a voluntary immunization registry managed by the Department of Health, allowing parents to opt out of participation and providing access to their child's immunization records without requiring mandates. These changes directly affect schools, daycare centers, and parents making healthcare decisions for their children.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals vaccine mandates, prohibiting schools/local governments from requiring immunizations, restricting public health measures under healthcare policy.95% confidence

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in committee · Idaho · House Feb 25, 2026

H 759: MEDICAID – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding provider payment.

H 759 revises Idaho's Medicaid provider payment rules to reduce costs and increase transparency. It sets payment rates at 90% of Medicare rates for most services (up to 100% for primary care), requires annual cost surveys for home-based services with 15% audits, and mandates public reporting of survey results by December 31 each year. The bill directly affects residential habilitation providers, hospitals, and other Medicaid service providers by requiring them to allocate funds to direct care wages and meet spending thresholds. Key mechanisms include new reimbursement rates for hospitals (e.g., 101% for in-state critical access hospitals), a three-year budget reduction target for hospital payments, and nullifying specific administrative rules after 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly reduces Medicaid provider payments to 90% of Medicare rates, directly cutting state spending on public assistance programs to lower costs.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill reduces Medicaid provider payments to 90% of Medicare rates (100% for primary care), cutting costs and restricting reimbursement, which limits provider funding and access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · Idaho · House Feb 26, 2026

H 739: PEDIATRIC SECRETIVE TRANSITIONS PARENTAL RIGHTS ACT – Adds to existing law to establish the Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act.

This Idaho bill (H 739) requires schools and healthcare providers to notify parents within 72 hours if a minor expresses interest in social gender transition steps (like changing names/pronouns, bathroom use, or sports teams). It prohibits covered entities (schools, childcare, healthcare) from hiding such requests or facilitating medical gender transition procedures without parental consent. Parents can sue for violations and seek damages, while the state attorney general may impose civil fines up to $100,000 per violation. The bill directly affects minors under 18, their parents/guardians, and educational/medical institutions serving them.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts medical gender transition procedures without parental consent, limiting healthcare access for minors seeking gender-affirming care per bill's prohibition on facilitating such procedures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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