Healthcare

in committee · Idaho · Senate Feb 17, 2026

S 1315: HOSPITALS – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding maternity price transparency and disclosure.

Idaho's S 1315 requires hospitals licensed to provide labor and delivery services to display comprehensive, transparent pricing for maternity care. Specifically, these hospitals must create single-click access on their public price estimator portals for both vaginal and cesarean birth episodes, showing all-inclusive costs for standard care (including antepartum, delivery, and postpartum services) plus common add-on fees like epidurals or circumcision. The bill also prohibits hospitals from including contract clauses that block discounted cash prices for labor and delivery services below insurance rates. This law applies to all Idaho hospitals offering maternity care and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to disclose transparent maternity care pricing, improving patient access to cost information and aligning with patient rights protections in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Idaho · House Mar 9, 2026

H 754: IDAHO DIRECT PRIMARY CARE ACT – Amends existing law to include physical therapy in the definition of primary care provider.

This bill amends Idaho law to include physical therapists in the legal definition of "primary care provider" for direct primary care services. It directly affects physical therapists, allowing them to offer direct primary care under the same framework as doctors of family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, or dentistry. The key provision revises Section 39-9203 to explicitly list physical therapy as a qualifying field, enabling physical therapists to enter direct primary care agreements with patients. The change takes effect on July 1, 2026. This expands access to direct primary care options for patients seeking physical therapy services as part of a primary care relationship.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands primary care provider definition to include physical therapists, increasing access to care and supporting healthcare professions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

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signed · Idaho · House Mar 17, 2026

H 528: DIRECTED BLOOD PRODUCT TRANSFUSION – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding directed blood product transfusion.

H 528 allows Idaho patients to use their own blood or blood from a donor they specifically choose (a "directed donor") for transfusions, provided the blood is collected by a federally compliant blood establishment. Healthcare providers cannot block this option unless the blood use would be unsafe, time-sensitive, or for an emergency. The bill also shields providers from liability for injuries from using this blood, unless their gross negligence caused harm. This law, effective July 1, 2026, does not override federal blood donation rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient autonomy in blood transfusions by allowing directed donations, aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare services.95% confidence

signed · Idaho · House Mar 17, 2026

H 531: EPINEPHRINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the use of epinephrine in schools.

Idaho's H 531 amends school medication policies to improve access to epinephrine for students with severe allergies. It allows students to self-administer epinephrine auto-injectors and requires schools to maintain stock supplies for emergency use by trained staff. The bill mandates staff training on recognizing allergic reactions, proper storage/administration, and reporting incidents. It also provides legal protection for schools and staff acting reasonably during emergencies, while requiring prescriptions for student-specific use. This directly affects students with life-threatening allergies, school nurses, and designated school personnel.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances K-12 student safety by improving epinephrine access and staff training, directly supporting school health policies under education framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves emergency epinephrine access for students with allergies via school stock supplies, self-administration, and staff training, directly advancing healthcare access in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

signed · Idaho · House Mar 30, 2026

H 491: EMERGENCY FIRST AID – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding immunity of persons giving first aid from damage claims.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands legal immunity for mental health crisis first aid providers, encouraging voluntary assistance without lawsuit risk and improving emergency mental health access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

in committee · Idaho · House Mar 25, 2026

H 530: INSURANCE – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding coverage of anticancer medications under health benefit plans.

This Idaho bill (H 530) requires health insurance plans to cover anticancer medications with equal cost-sharing for oral and injected treatments. Specifically, it mandates that out-of-pocket costs for oral anticancer drugs cannot exceed $250 per 30-day supply, matching the cost limits for injected options. The law clarifies that plans aren’t required to classify anticancer medications as "medical benefits" but prohibits them from increasing costs or reclassifying coverage to avoid compliance. It takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting insurers and patients using oral anticancer medications under Idaho health plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal cost-sharing for oral/injected anticancer meds, capping out-of-pocket costs at $250/30-day supply to improve patient access and prevent cost-shifting.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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signed · Idaho · House Mar 25, 2026

H 556: STATE PRISONERS HOUSED IN COUNTY JAILS – Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding per diem costs of state prisoners housed in county jails.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases state payments to counties for housing state prisoners, covers medical costs, and adjusts per diem rates to ensure proper compensation for correctional facilities.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates state coverage of all medical/dental costs for inmates in county jails, directly funding healthcare services within correctional facilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · Idaho · House Mar 20, 2026

H 529: HEALTH CARE – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding certain out-of-pocket payments for health care services.

This Idaho bill (H 529) allows health insurance policyholders to pay cash directly to providers for covered services at a negotiated discounted price, with that payment counting toward their out-of-pocket deductible and annual maximum. It requires health carriers to count such cash payments toward these limits if the patient negotiated a lower price than the insurance plan’s allowed amount and provides required documentation. The law applies to in-network or out-of-network providers but excludes dental/vision plans, Medicaid, Medicare, and certain short-term policies. Providers must accept cash as full payment and cannot bill patients or insurers for the difference. The provisions take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows cash payments at negotiated discounts to count toward deductibles, reducing patient out-of-pocket costs and improving access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · Idaho · House Jan 20, 2026

H 496: PODIATRY – Amends, repeals, and adds to existing law to provide for the Podiatric Medical Practice Act.

This Idaho bill replaces outdated podiatry regulations with a new licensing framework. It requires all podiatrists to hold a license, complete an accredited residency, and pass competency exams before practicing. The law defines podiatry as treating only foot and leg conditions (excluding knee surgery or amputations) and makes unlicensed practice a felony. The State Board of Medicine gains authority to set licensing standards, conduct disciplinary actions, and oversee renewals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes licensing standards for podiatrists, requiring accredited training and competency exams to ensure qualified practitioners, strengthening healthcare profession regulation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · Idaho · House Jan 29, 2026

H 550: MIDWIFERY – Amends and adds to existing law to provide for a licensed midwife to obtain and administer medication indicated for maternal care or neonatal care if a midwife possesses requisite education, training, and experience.

This Idaho bill (H 550) expands the scope of practice for licensed midwives by allowing them to obtain and administer any medication for maternal or neonatal care - such as antibiotics, pain management, or emergency treatments - if they have the required education, training, and experience. It directly affects licensed midwives and their patients by enabling midwives to provide more comprehensive care during pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care without needing separate physician authorization for these medications. The bill adds a new section (54-5504A) requiring midwives to follow specific protocols for medication use, storage, and emergency transfers to hospitals when needed. It also updates existing rules to clarify medication permissions while maintaining restrictions for high-risk conditions that require physician management.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands midwife scope to administer maternal/neonatal medications without physician authorization, improving patient access to comprehensive care and supporting healthcare providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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