Virtual Health Care
Several telehealth bills have been introduced in recent years to lower the standard for creating a prescriber-patient relationship through synchronous and asynchronous technology while falling short on patient protections or waiving Idaho licensure to treat Idaho patients.
IMA acknowledged that legislation reforming telehealth would be introduced and passed this Legislative Session. Recognizing this, the Lobby Team worked with nearly a dozen different stakeholders to reach consensus, and HB 162 Virtual Health Care is the result.
HB 162 does allow prescriber-patient relationships to be formed using asynchronous technology, but it also provides direction to the appropriate DOPL licensure boards to uphold the standard of care, increases patient protections, and requires Idaho licensure in all but a limited set of circumstances related to continuity of care. These are all wins that would have been difficult to secure if not attached to a larger telehealth bill.
On February 23, with the support of the IMA, HB 162 was introduced by Rep. Jordan Redman (R-Coeur d’Alene) and co-sponsored by Chairman John Vander Woude (R-Nampa) and Rep. Chenele Dixon (R-Kimberly). It unanimously passed the House Health and Welfare Committee and was sent to the full House with a do-pass recommendation.
| 
