ID H0712

Establishes the Crisis Standards of Care Act in Idaho Code Chapter 17, Title 56, allowing the Department of Health and Welfare director to declare crisis standards of care when health care resources are limited due to public health crises or natural disasters.

Requires health care facilities (hospitals, nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and residential/assisted living facilities) to maintain all existing patient rights during crisis standards of care, including living wills, informed consent, and access to patient advocates and life-sustaining food and water.

Mandates that crisis standards of care follow guiding principles including saving the most lives with limited resources, prohibiting discrimination based on disability, race, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, or conscience/religion, and banning categorical exclusions from treatment eligibility.

Requires facilities requesting crisis standards activation to submit a mitigation plan within one week detailing known impacts and projected timeline for restoring capacity, and mandates the director report to the governor and legislature within one week with mitigation recommendations and potential disaster emergency fund allocations.

Establishes an Office of Patient Ombudsman within the governor's office during any declared crisis standards of care to receive and address complaints from patients and families, operating through three weeks after the declaration is terminated.