March 13, 2026

Before We Get Started - Our Legislative Allies Need Your Support!

In the last 10 days, several lawmakers took difficult but principled votes to oppose legislation pushed by out-of-state interests. These dangerous bills seek to undermine medical decision-making, weaken safety standards in hospitals and clinics, and reduce access to care in Idaho. The legislators who voted to represent their constituents are now being targeted on the campaign trail by the same outside groups behind those harmful efforts.

We cannot leave them to fight alone – through IMPAC you can help make a difference.

National organizations have proven they can spend record amounts in Idaho to reshape healthcare, and IMPAC is working to raise an additional $10,000 by April 15 to defend our allies who stood with you.

The 2026 Primary Election is May 19 – less than two months away, so every investment will help pro-medicine candidates reach voters before ballots are cast. Please invest in IMPAC today by clicking below or by texting “IMPAC” to 208-996-8776.

If you have any questions, please contact Dylan Ray at Dylan@idmed.org.

Significant Progress with Parental Consent Amendments

On March 9, Rep. Barbara Ehardt (R-Idaho Falls) introduced HB 860, legislation containing much-needed amendments to Idaho's Parental Rights Act. After nearly two years of sustained work, collaboration, and careful refinement with stakeholders, IMA was able to help craft legislation designed to strike a thoughtful balance that honors parental rights, protects minors, and preserves physicians’ ability to provide compassionate, appropriate care. HB 860 contains changes that address several IMA priorities including:

• Allow for the treatment of minors seeking care in an emergency directly related to an allegation of a crime committed against them
• Allow pregnant minors to consent to their own care from the prenatal through peripartum period
• Contact to the Idaho Crisis and Suicide 988 Hotline for minors experiencing a mental health crisis, while also permitting follow-up contact within 48 hours to reassess their safety
• A modified emergency standard to include addressing serious bodily harm to the child
• Clear guidelines for blanket parental consent forms to allow treatment of minors  
• Prohibits disclosure of medical records if the records contain information related to physical abuse, abandonment, or neglect

IMA is grateful for the meaningful changes contained in HB 860, but we are still highly concerned about the ability of physicians to provide appropriate care for drug-addicted newborns. Our lobby team is engaging in discussions with the bill sponsors and other stakeholders to include this important provision in the law.

HB 860 also clarifies provisions related to civil actions, setting a two-year statute of limitations and including an emergency clause and would take effect immediately upon passage. On March 11, the House Judiciary Committee heard HB 860 sending it to the full House with a do pass recommendation. IMA sincerely thanks Rep. Ehardt for her efforts to work with IMA to address our concerns.

HB 808 Fails to Advance in House Health & Welfare Committee

On March 12, the House Health and Welfare Committee held a hearing on HB 808, legislation that would decimate Idaho’s public health infrastructure. The bill would take away the ability of private businesses – including medical clinics and hospitals – to keep their patients and employees safe from infectious diseases, among many other harmful provisions.


As expected, this controversial legislation generated significant public interest and ultimately spanned two separate committee meetings. Fortunately, following the marathon of motions, the Committee voted 7-9 to hold HB 808, and it will not advance this session.

We are extremely thankful to the dozens of IMA members who contacted their legislators, urging them to oppose HB 808. With your help, we were able to send hundreds of messages of concern. 


IMA would like to thank Rep. John Vander Woude (R-Meridian), Rep. Dori Healey (R-Boise), Rep. Josh Wheeler (R-Idaho Falls), Rep. Ben Fuhriman (R-Shelley), Rep. Lori McCann (R-Lewiston), Rep. Grayson Stone (Twin Falls), Rep. Megan Egbert (D-Boise), Rep. Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) and Rep. Larsen, sub for Rep. Marco Erickson (Idaho Falls) for opposing this harmful legislation.

Physician Assistant Independent Practice

As IMA reported in our March 6 legislative report, HB 806 was introduced to allow physician assistants to practice independently upon graduation from their training programs. IMA opposes HB 806 due to its lack of patient safety guardrails. 


IMA physician leaders have met with Idaho Academy of Physician Assistants (IAPA) Board members on a few occasions over the past month to discuss the provisions of the bill, as well as the challenges that physician assistants are facing with their current licensure requirements. 


On March 11, the IAPA Board met and voted to oppose HB 806 as currently written, even though they have concerns with the current statutory framework. IMA has committed to engage with IAPA during the interim to see if our two organizations can find common ground.


In the meantime, IMA is continuing its work to defeat HB 806 in the House Health and Welfare Committee and will share IAPA’s opposition. Following the conclusion of the legislative session, IMA will survey its physician members to better understand perspectives on physician assistant scope of practice and will utilize those responses in our discussions.


IMA appreciates IAPA’s efforts and looks forward to continuing our collaboration in the months ahead.

Medicaid Expansion Repeal + Residential Habilitation Cuts

On March 9, the House Health and Welfare Committee introduced HB 850, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Redman (R-Coeur d'Alene), legislation that would fully repeal Medicaid Expansion in Idaho. Unlike previous repeal efforts, such as last year’s HB 138, which conditioned repeal on a series of logistical and bureaucratic triggers, HB 850 would end the program outright effective January 1, 2028. If enacted, the bill would strip health coverage from approximately 90,000 Idahoans and create significant, lasting disruption for Idaho’s healthcare system – while costing Idaho more money in the long run.

HB 850 also appears to reflect a broader frustration within the Committee following their reluctance on March 5 to advance HB 759, which would have imposed cuts to Idaho’s residential habilitation program. In response to concerns raised during that debate, particularly around program auditing, Rep. John Vander Woude (R-Meridian) introduced HB 863 on March 10. That bill was then sent to the full House with a do-pass recommendation, where it later passed on a 60-8 vote on March 12.


IMA will remain actively engaged with the committee to prevent HB 850 from advancing this session. We will keep you informed if this legislation, or any similar proposal, begins to gain traction. You can read more about the introduction of HB 850 by clicking HERE.

Oral Cancer Treatment Parity Clears the House


HB 648, introduced by Rep. Chris Bruce (R-Kuna) and Rep. Brooke Green (D-Boise), cleared the full House with a 66-0 vote. HB 648 seeks to ensure that insurance coverage for oral chemotherapy is on equal footing with traditional IV infusion treatments, allowing eligible patients to receive their medication at home or through less intrusive means. 

The legislation carries added weight given both sponsors’ recent personal experiences with cancer, making its advancement especially meaningful. After several weeks of uncertainty while the bill awaited action on the House calendar, IMA is encouraged to see HB 648 now move to the Senate.


IMA wants to thank Rep. Green and Rep. Bruce for their courageous and personal commitment to healthcare in Idaho. Their willingness to draw on their own experiences to advocate for Idahoans faced with cancer and battling similar challenges is a testament to the kind of leadership that makes a lasting difference in Idaho.

HB 648 is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Commerce Committee. The lobby team will continue to support this policy as it moves through the legislative process.