Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0550 – Midwifery Medication Authority Expansion Act
Bill Summary
House Bill 550 significantly expands the scope of practice for licensed midwives in Idaho by removing the restrictive list of specific medications they may administer and replacing it with broad authority to obtain and administer any medication indicated for maternal or neonatal care. The bill eliminates the previous formulary that limited midwives to nine specific medications (oxygen, oxytocin, misoprostol, methylergonovine, local anesthetics, antibiotics for GBS prophylaxis, epinephrine, IV fluids, Rho(D) immune globulin, phytonadione, and eye prophylactics) and the requirement for 120-day advance notice to the Board of Pharmacy and Board of Medicine for adding new drugs.
Under the new Section 54-5504A, licensed midwives may now administer any maternal or neonatal medication for which they possess the requisite education, training, and experience, provided administration occurs within the acceptable community standard of care. The bill maintains existing safety protocols including detailed scope of practice standards, conditions requiring physician consultation or hospital transfer, emergency transfer procedures, and comprehensive recordkeeping requirements. The legislation also updates code references in Section 54-5510 and nullifies existing administrative rules (IDAPA 24.26.01, Section 200, Subsection 01) related to drug protocols, with an emergency effective date of July 1, 2026.
Overall Assessment
This bill receives a total score of +1, reflecting minimal alignment with the evaluated policy metrics. The legislation primarily affects healthcare delivery by expanding professional autonomy for licensed midwives and reducing regulatory restrictions on medication administration. The positive score derives entirely from alignment with health and welfare principles supporting private enterprise healthcare delivery and minimal government regulation. The bill does not substantively address any other policy areas including government responsibility, education, natural resources, economy, family values, or law and order.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This bill addresses professional licensing and scope of practice for midwives. It contains no provisions relating to fiscal responsibility, taxation, balanced budgets, government spending, or legislative reform as defined in this metric.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill concerns healthcare professional regulations and medication authority. It does not address elections, voting procedures, primary systems, ranked-choice voting, or citizen participation in government processes.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
While Section 54-5504A references midwives possessing 'requisite education, training, and experience,' this pertains to professional qualifications rather than educational policy, curriculum standards, parental rights in education, or school funding mechanisms addressed by this metric.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
This bill regulates midwifery practice and maternal healthcare. It contains no text relating to agriculture, farming, ranching, agricultural education, trade, or water rights for agricultural purposes.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
The legislation addresses healthcare professional licensing and medication protocols. It contains no provisions relating to water rights, water management, inter-basin transfers, dams, reservoirs, or water policy.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
This bill concerns midwifery practice standards and medication authority. It contains no text relating to natural resources, environmental policy, federal lands, wilderness areas, or forest management.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
The bill addresses healthcare professional regulations. It contains no provisions relating to energy policy, energy independence, hydroelectric power, nuclear energy, or energy research and development.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
This legislation concerns midwifery licensing and scope of practice. It contains no text relating to Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, technology transfer, or energy technology development.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
The bill addresses professional licensing and medication authority for midwives. It contains no provisions relating to property rights, eminent domain, regulatory takings, or property development regulations.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
This bill concerns healthcare professional regulations. It contains no text relating to state or federal land management, land transfers, or public land policy.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
The legislation addresses midwifery practice and maternal care. It contains no provisions relating to wildlife, hunting, fishing, predator management, or wildlife habitat.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
While this bill affects healthcare professionals who operate businesses, it does not directly address broader economic policy, commerce, small business regulation generally, labor policy, taxation, or transportation infrastructure as defined in this metric.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (1)
The bill directly supports private enterprise healthcare delivery with minimal government regulation by removing the restrictive medication formulary in Section 54-5504(1)(a)-(b) and replacing it with broad professional discretion in new Section 54-5504A, allowing midwives to administer 'any medication indicated for maternal care or neonatal care for which the midwife possesses the requisite education, training, and experience.' This expansion of professional autonomy and reduction of regulatory restrictions aligns with the metric's support for freedom of choice in medical decisions and cost-effective healthcare delivery.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
While this bill relates to maternal and neonatal care affecting families, it does not address traditional family values, marriage definition, right to life, abortion policy (beyond maintaining the existing prohibition on midwife-performed abortions in Section 54-5504(2)(g)), or parental authority over children's education and healthcare as defined in this metric.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
This bill addresses midwifery practice for maternal and neonatal care. It contains no provisions relating to older Americans, retirement security, healthcare for seniors, or policies affecting the elderly population.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
The legislation concerns healthcare professional licensing and scope of practice. It contains no text relating to gun rights, criminal justice, drug policy, incarceration, death penalty, or state sovereignty regarding immigration enforcement.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
This bill addresses midwifery practice and medication authority. It contains no provisions relating to national defense, veterans' services, military installations, border security, or terrorism prevention.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
The bill concerns healthcare professional regulations. It contains no text relating to judicial elections, selection of judges, constitutional interpretation, or court procedures.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
This legislation addresses professional licensing and medication protocols for midwives. It contains no provisions relating to religious freedom, free exercise of religion, conscience protections, or religious exemptions from government mandates.