Bill > H0592

This bill requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to collect data on patients' immigration status by including a question on admission or registration forms, asking patients to indicate if they are a U.S. citizen, lawfully present, or not lawfully present in the United States, with assurances that this information will not affect their care or be reported to immigration authorities. Hospitals must then submit quarterly reports to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare detailing the number of admissions or emergency department visits categorized by these immigration statuses, and the department will compile an annual report for state leadership on these numbers, the costs of uncompensated care for undocumented individuals, and related impacts on hospital services and funding. The Department of Health and Welfare is authorized to create rules for reporting formats, but these rules cannot require the disclosure of patient names or personally identifiable information, and "immigration status" is defined to encompass various legal categories of presence in the U.S., including citizens, permanent residents, nonimmigrants, refugees, asylees, and undocumented individuals. The bill also declares an emergency and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Health and Social Services

Health and Welfare Committee (House)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0592/