Idaho would put rural health grants under legislative oversight

Idaho would hold rural health program money in a state fund and report its income and spending publicly each year. The fund would hold federal rural health transformation grant money and any other money set aside by Idaho lawmakers. Money could support only federally approved rural health transformation purposes. Spending would require lawmakers to set aside money following the committee's recommendation. The measure would take effect on and after passage and approval.

A nine-member committee would set additional funding requirements, including application scoring rules, and arrange faster award reviews with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The committee would include four senators, four House members, and one nonvoting member chosen by the governor. Award reviews would follow federally approved timelines in Idaho's plan. Every funded initiative would need a plan for keeping it running. At least three legislative members would represent districts with no population center of 20,000 or more. The text leaves unclear whether this minimum applies to each chamber or both combined. The committee would set additional award requirements for the first award year and by September 30 for each of the four remaining award years.

The committee would oversee the fund, evaluate projects, and recommend spending within Idaho's federally approved plan. Oversight would cover projects paid for through the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Fund. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare would provide project progress, spending, and outcome updates at least quarterly. The committee would have ready, real-time access to all program award data received or created by the department, including application scores and reports. The committee would remain active until all fund money had been approved for spending and spent.