IdahoIdaho Medicaid providers must avoid certain hiring and training practices
Since July 1, 2026, Idaho Medicaid providers must follow limits on certain hiring, workplace, and public communication practices in Medicaid-funded activities.
What it does
Idaho Medicaid providers must avoid certain hiring preferences, workplace policies, and training, and cannot use state funds for public messages promoting those practices. Several clinical and federally required activities are exempt.
The attorney general may investigate formal complaints and seek penalties for violations. Before a civil penalty, the department must give written notice and a chance to correct the problem.
A health care professional may sue over retaliation for refusing to take part in prohibited DEI conduct. Possible remedies include returning to work, damages, or a court order.
Argument forPatients may benefit if providers base Medicaid-funded employment and contracting decisions on job qualifications and clinical skills.
Argument againstProviders may have to change workplace practices that they see as useful, though the law exempts several clinical and federally required activities.
More detail
Health care providers must not use certain hiring practices, workplace policies, or training, or state funds for certain public messages. The rules cover providers who participate in Idaho Medicaid or receive Medicaid payments through a state-contracted managed care network. The rules apply to Medicaid-funded activities and must be carried out consistently with federal Medicaid requirements. The law preserves compliance with federal civil rights laws, legitimate clinical data collection and discussions, and certain clinical, federally required, or accreditation-related activities. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
The attorney general may investigate formal complaints and seek civil penalties; the department must first give written notice and a chance to correct a violation. These enforcement rules apply to health care providers covered by the chapter. For providers with 50 or more employees, maximum penalties are $10,000 for a first violation, $50,000 for a second, and $100,000 for a third or later violation. For providers with fewer than 50 employees, the maximums are $5,000, $25,000, and $50,000, respectively. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
A health care professional may sue for retaliation for refusing to take part in prohibited DEI conduct. The right applies to health care professionals who face retaliation for refusing to participate in prohibited conduct. Possible remedies include reinstatement, a court order to stop the retaliation, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorney fees. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on April 2, 2026 Session Law Chapter 289 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Apr 1Delivered to Governor at 4:12 p.m. on April 1, 2026To Governor
- Apr 1Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Apr 1Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Apr 1Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Apr 1Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Mar 31Rules Suspended: Ayes 61 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 9, read in full as required – PASSED - 55-8-7AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon(Cannon), Cayler, Cheatum, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill(Hill), Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts(Batt), Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Berch, Church, Egbert, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Mathias, NelsenAbsent – Cornilles, Haws, Holtzclaw, Palmer, Rubel, Skaug, WheelerFloor Sponsor - HostetlerTitle apvd - to enrolMajor
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 61 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 9, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 31Read first time as amended in Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 31Reported Engrossed; Filed for First Reading of Engrossed Bills
- Mar 30Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing
- Vote recorded Read third time as amended in the Senate –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 30Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 30House Concurred in Senate Amendments
- Mar 30Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 30Read third time as amended in the Senate – PASSED - 29-6-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Rabe, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, WintrowAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsors - Kohl & ToewsTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 27Read second time as amended in the Senate, filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Read first time as amended in the Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 26Amendments reported printed
- Mar 26Reported out as amended; filed for first reading
- Mar 26Amendments ordered printed
- Mar 26Placed in the Committee of the Whole
- Mar 25Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
- Mar 23Introduced, read first time; referred to: Health & WelfareMinor
- Mar 23Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 20Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 56-14-0AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Garner, Hall(Stone), Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Berch, Cheatum, Church, Egbert, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Handy, Haws, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Nelsen, RubelAbsent – NoneFloor Sponsor - HostetlerTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 19Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Reported Printed; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 18Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
HealthcareCivil Rights & Voting