Bill > H0788

This bill establishes a program in Idaho to exempt certain medical practitioners from prior authorization requirements for services billed to Medicaid, which is a government health insurance program for low-income individuals and families. Specifically, eligible practitioners like physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses in family medicine, psychiatry, or obstetrics and gynecology who provide at least 360 hours of preceptorship (mentoring and training) per year, with at least 60% of those hours in a rural or underserved area, will receive a 12-month exemption from these prior authorization rules. The Department of Health and Welfare will verify these hours and grant the exemption at the start of the next calendar year, but can revoke it if a review of claims shows the practitioner's risk-weighted claim score falls below an acceptable level, provided the practitioner is given at least 25 days' notice. There's a limit of 100 practitioners per eligible specialty who can receive this exemption annually, and the department will create rules for this process, including a system for evaluating claims. This exemption program will end on July 1, 2030, and the bill takes effect immediately on July 1, 2026, due to an declared emergency.

Health and Social Services

Health and Welfare Committee (House)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0788/