House Bill 756 - Crisis Standards of Care Act

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

• Guarantees patients and residents maintain all existing state and federal rights during crisis standards, including adherence to advance directives, access to advocates, and the right to life-sustaining nutrition and hydration unless expressly authorized otherwise.

• Requires essential caregivers to have visitation rights to patients and residents even when other visitors are excluded, subject only to reasonable restrictions necessary to prevent disruption of care services.

• Mandates the director report within one week to state leadership and legislative health committees on any activation, including the nature of shortages and a mitigation plan to limit the scope and duration of crisis operations, with daily facility reports to the department on ongoing necessity.

• Establishes an Office of Patient Ombudsman within the governor's office upon activation to receive complaints and advocate for patient and resident rights, operating for the duration of the crisis and ceasing within three weeks after termination of the declaration.