Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the practice of physician assistants.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. 806
BY HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
AN ACT	1
RELATING TO PHYSICIANS AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS; AMENDING SECTION 54-1807A,	2
IDAHO CODE, TO REVISE PROVISIONS REGARDING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICIAN	3
ASSISTANTS; AMENDING SECTION 54-1814, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR HEALTH	4
PROFESSIONALS WHO REQUIRE SUPERVISION; AMENDING SECTION 54-1867, IDAHO	5
CODE, TO REMOVE A LIMITATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING	6
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.	7
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:	8
SECTION 1. That Section 54-1807A, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby	9
amended to read as follows:	10
54-1807A. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ADVISORY COM-	11
MITTEE. (1) Physician assistants must be licensed by the board prior to the	12
commencement of activities that may involve the practice of medicine in this	13
state. The licensure requirements for physician assistants shall include	14
passage of an examination acceptable to the board and submission of a com-	15
pleted application to the board on forms furnished by the board. All appli-	16
cants for original licensure as a physician assistant shall submit to a fin-	17
gerprint-based criminal history check in accordance with section 67-9411A,	18
Idaho Code. All physician assistants shall renew their licenses biennially.	19
(2) A physician assistant may practice at a licensed health care	20
facility, a facility with a credentialing and privileging system, a physi-	21
cian-owned facility or practice, or another facility or practice allowed	22
by this chapter. A physician assistant shall collaborate with, consult	23
with, or refer to the appropriate member of the facility health care team as	24
indicated by: the condition of the patient; the education, experience, and	25
competence of the physician assistant; and the community standard of care.	26
The degree and nature of collaboration shall be determined by the facility	27
or practice in which the physician assistant works and shall be set forth in	28
facility bylaws or procedures for facilities that have credentialing and	29
privileging systems or in a written collaborative practice agreement for all	30
other facilities and practices. Such provisions may provide for collabo-	31
rative oversight to be provided by the employer, group, hospital service,	32
or the credentialing and privileging systems of a licensed facility, but	33
at a minimum shall require a physician assistant to collaborate with one	34
(1) or more physicians licensed pursuant to this chapter. Such physicians	35
need not be identified individually in the facility bylaws or procedures	36
or collaborative practice agreement if more than one (1) physician works	37
in the facility or practice. A physician assistant is responsible for the	38
care provided by the physician assistant and is responsible for obtaining	39
professional liability insurance if the physician assistant is not covered	40
by the facility or practice in which the physician assistant works. A physi-	41
cian assistant may be employed by nonphysician health care providers if the	42

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physician assistant has a written collaborative practice agreement with one	1
(1) or more physicians licensed pursuant to this chapter. Both the physi-	2
cian assistant and the physician who are parties to a collaborative practice	3
agreement must comply with all requirements of this chapter and board rules.	4
The collaborative practice agreement shall be provided to the board upon re-	5
quest. necessary to appropriately assess and treat the condition of the pa-	6
tient within the scope of the physician assistant's education, training, and	7
experience and within the community standard of care. The degree and nature	8
of collaboration shall be determined by the facility or practice in which	9
the physician assistant works and shall be set forth in facility bylaws or	10
procedures for facilities that have credentialing and privileging systems	11
or in a written collaborative practice agreement for all other facilities	12
and practices. Such provisions may provide for collaborative oversight to	13
be provided by the employer, group, hospital service, or the credentialing	14
and privileging systems of a licensed facility. A physician assistant is	15
responsible for the care provided and is responsible for obtaining profes-	16
sional liability insurance if the physician assistant is not covered by the	17
facility or practice in which the physician assistant works. A physician	18
assistant may be employed by nonphysician health care providers. Any col-	19
laborative practice agreement shall be provided to the board upon request.	20
(3) A physician assistant or a group of physician assistants may inde-	21
pendently own a medical practice in this state provided that each physician	22
assistant has a collaborative practice agreement in place with a physician	23
licensed under this chapter. The collaborative practice agreement shall	24
specify that the physician assistant must collaborate with, consult with,	25
or refer to the collaborating physician or another appropriate physician	26
as indicated by: the condition of the patient; the education, experience,	27
and competence of the physician assistant; and the community standard of	28
care. Both the physician assistant and the physician who are parties to	29
the collaborative practice agreement must comply with all requirements of	30
this chapter and board rules. The collaborative practice agreement shall	31
be provided to the board upon request. A physician assistant or group of	32
physician assistants may independently own a medical practice in this state.	33
Any collaborative practice agreement shall be provided to the board upon	34
request. Each physician assistant must be licensed, registered or certi-	35
fied as a physician assistant in any state, territory or jurisdiction of the	36
United States for at least two (2) years before the physician assistant may	37
independently own a practice in this state.	38
(4) The facility or practice and each collaborating physician are re-	39
sponsible for ensuring that the medical services performed by the physician	40
assistant are within the physician assistant's scope of education, experi-	41
ence, and competence. Each collaborating physician shall collaborate with	42
the physician assistant on the performance of only those medical services	43
for which the collaborating physician has training and experience.	44
(5) (4) A physician assistant advisory committee is hereby established	45
as follows:	46
(a) The physician assistant advisory committee shall consist of five	47
(5) members appointed by the board. Four (4) members shall be physician	48
assistants who are residents in this state and engaged in the active	49
practice of medicine in this state, and one (1) member shall be a public	50

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member. Whenever a term of a member of the advisory committee expires or	1
becomes vacant, the board shall give consideration to recommendations	2
made by professional organizations of physician assistants and physi-	3
cians or by any individual residing in the state. The board may remove	4
any committee member for misconduct, incompetency or neglect of duty	5
after giving the member a written statement of the charges and an oppor-	6
tunity to be heard thereon. The executive director of the Idaho state	7
board of medicine shall serve as the executive director to the physician	8
assistant advisory committee.	9
(b) Members will serve a term of three (3) years and terms will be stag-	10
gered. Members may serve two (2) successive terms. The committee shall	11
elect a chairman from its membership. The committee shall meet as often	12
as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. Members will be compen-	13
sated according to section 59-509(p), Idaho Code.	14
(c) The physician assistant advisory committee shall not have author-	15
ity to revoke licenses or impose limitations or conditions on licenses	16
issued pursuant to this chapter. The committee has authority to make	17
recommendations to the board. The board shall make all final decisions	18
with respect thereto.	19
(d) The physician assistant advisory committee shall work in the fol-	20
lowing areas in conjunction with and make recommendations to the board	21
and shall perform other duties and functions assigned to it by the	22
board, including:	23
(i) Evaluating the qualifications of applicants for licensure	24
and registration;	25
(ii) Performing investigations of misconduct and making recom-	26
mendations regarding discipline;	27
(iii) Maintaining a list of currently licensed physician assis-	28
tants and graduate physician assistants in this state; and	29
(iv) Advising the board on rule changes necessary to license and	30
regulate physician assistants and graduate physician assistants	31
in this state.	32
SECTION 2. That Section 54-1814, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby	33
amended to read as follows:	34
54-1814. GROUNDS FOR MEDICAL DISCIPLINE. Every person licensed to	35
practice medicine, or registered as an intern or resident in this state is	36
subject to discipline by the board pursuant to the procedures set forth in	37
this chapter and rules promulgated pursuant thereto upon any of the follow-	38
ing grounds:	39
(1) Being convicted of a felony, pleading guilty to a felony, or the	40
finding of guilt by a jury or court of commission of a felony.	41
(2) Using false, fraudulent or forged statements or documents, diplo-	42
mas or credentials in connection with any licensing or other requirements of	43
this act.	44
(3) Practicing medicine under a false or assumed name in this or any	45
other state.	46
(4) Advertising the practice of medicine in any unethical or unprofes-	47
sional manner.	48

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(5) Knowingly aiding or abetting any person to practice medicine who is	1
not authorized to practice medicine as provided in this chapter.	2
(6) Performing or procuring an unlawful abortion or aiding or abetting	3
the performing or procuring of an unlawful abortion.	4
(7) Providing health care which fails to meet the standard of health	5
care provided by other qualified physicians or physician assistants in the	6
same community or similar communities, taking into account his training, ex-	7
perience and the degree of expertise to which he holds himself out to the pub-	8
lic.	9
(8) Dividing fees or gifts or agreeing to split or divide fees or gifts	10
received for professional services with any person, institution or corpora-	11
tion in exchange for referral.	12
(9) Giving or receiving or aiding or abetting the giving or receiving of	13
rebates, either directly or indirectly.	14
(10) Inability to obtain or renew a license to practice medicine, or re-	15
vocation, suspension, or other discipline of a license to practice medicine	16
by any other state, territory, district of the United States or Canada, un-	17
less it can be shown that such action was not related to the competence of the	18
person to practice medicine or to any conduct designated herein.	19
(11) Prescribing or furnishing narcotic or hallucinogenic drugs to ad-	20
dicted persons to maintain their addictions and level of usage without at-	21
tempting to treat the primary condition requiring the use of narcotics.	22
(12) Prescribing or furnishing narcotic, hypnotic, hallucinogenic,	23
stimulating or dangerous drugs for other than treatment of any disease, in-	24
jury or medical condition.	25
(13) Failing to safeguard the confidentiality of medical records or	26
other medical information pertaining to identifiable patients, except as	27
required or authorized by law.	28
(14) Directly promoting the sale of drugs, devices, appliances or goods	29
to a patient that are unnecessary and not medically indicated.	30
(15) Abandoning a patient.	31
(16) Willfully and intentionally representing that a manifestly incur-	32
able disease or injury or other manifestly incurable condition can be perma-	33
nently cured.	34
(17) Failing to supervise the activities of interns, residents, nurse	35
practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, or	36
physician assistants health professionals who require supervision.	37
(18) Practicing medicine when a license pursuant to this chapter is sus-	38
pended, revoked or inactive.	39
(19) Practicing medicine in violation of a voluntary restriction or	40
terms of probation pursuant to this chapter.	41
(20) Refusing to divulge to the board upon demand the means, method, de-	42
vice or instrumentality used in the treatment of a disease, injury, ailment,	43
or infirmity.	44
(21) Committing any act constituting a felony.	45
(22) Engaging in any conduct which constitutes an abuse or exploitation	46
of a patient arising out of the trust and confidence placed in the physician	47
by the patient.	48

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(23) Being convicted of or pleading guilty to driving under the influ-	1
ence of alcohol, drugs or other intoxicating substances or being convicted	2
of or pleading guilty to other drug or alcohol related criminal charges.	3
(24) Failing to comply with a board order entered by the board.	4
(25) Failing to comply with the requirements of the abortion complica-	5
tions reporting act, chapter 95, title 39, Idaho Code.	6
(26) Engaging in a pattern of unprofessional or disruptive behavior or	7
interaction in a health care setting that interferes with patient care or	8
could reasonably be expected to adversely impact the quality of care ren-	9
dered to a patient. Such behavior does not have to have caused actual patient	10
harm to be considered unprofessional or disruptive.	11
(27) Interfering with an investigation or disciplinary proceeding	12
by willful misrepresentation of facts or by use of threats of harassment	13
against any patient, member of a board or committee on professional disci-	14
pline, board staff, hearing officer, or witness in an attempt to influence	15
the outcome of a disciplinary proceeding, investigation, or other legal	16
action.	17
(28) Delegating professional responsibilities to:	18
(a) An unlicensed person when the licensee knows or has reason to know	19
that such person is not qualified by training, experience, or license to	20
carry them out; or	21
(b) A person licensed by this state to engage in activities which may	22
involve the practice of medicine when the delegating licensee knows or	23
has reason to know that the delegated activities are outside the li-	24
censed person's scope of practice.	25
(29) Failure to report the charge or conviction of a felony to the board	26
within thirty (30) days of the charge.	27
SECTION 3. That Section 54-1867, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby	28
amended to read as follows:	29
54-1867. LIMITED LICENSE FOR BRIDGE YEAR PHYSICIANS. (1) As used in	30
this section:	31
(a) "Board" means the state board of medicine.	32
(b) "Bridge year physician" means a person who:	33
(i) Is within the first year of graduation from a medical school	34
accredited or provisionally accredited by an entity recognized by	35
the board;	36
(ii) Is a United States citizen or attended medical school in the	37
United States; and	38
(iii) Applied to, but was not accepted into, an accredited medical	39
residency training program.	40
(2) The board shall establish a one (1) year, nonrenewable limited li-	41
cense under which bridge year physicians may practice medicine under terms,	42
conditions, and a scope of practice determined by the board. If there is a	43
limit to the number of limited licenses that may be issued, priority shall be	44
granted to bridge year physicians who live in Idaho or who have longstanding	45
ties to the state of Idaho, as determined by the board.	46
(3) Persons practicing under a limited license established pursuant to	47
this section shall:	48
(a) Practice only within the scope of practice determined by the board;	49

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(b) Practice under the supervision of a licensed physician or pursuant	1
to a collaborative practice agreement. The person practicing under a	2
limited license shall qualify as one (1) of a supervising physician's	3
permitted advanced practice professionals. The board shall prescribe	4
supervision requirements for limited licensees, provided that such re-	5
quirements shall be no less stringent than supervision requirements for	6
physician assistants;	7
(c) Have prescriptive authority as determined by the board; and	8
(d) Be subject to the same professional discipline, civil liability,	9
and criminal liability as a fully licensed physician.	10
(4) The services provided by a person practicing under a limited li-	11
cense shall be compensable in accordance with customary medical billing	12
practices.	13
(5) The board is authorized to:	14
(a) Take such actions as are necessary to implement the provisions of	15
this section, including the promulgation of any necessary rules;	16
(b) Charge a fee of up to three hundred dollars ($300) for a limited li-	17
cense; and	18
(c) Cooperate with the department of health and welfare and other rel-	19
evant entities, including hospitals and health care clinics, whether	20
public or private, in establishing a limited license.	21
(6) No later than January 31, 2033, the board shall provide a report to	22
the senate and house of representatives health and welfare committees on:	23
(a) Requirements for a limited license;	24
(b) The number of limited licenses issued and the number of limited li-	25
cense holders who were later accepted into a residency program; and	26
(c) Whether and how limited licenses have increased the supply of	27
health care providers in health professional shortage areas.	28
SECTION 4. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby	29
declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after	30
July 1, 2026.	31

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