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Committee approves allied-health rule updates for athletic trainers, respiratory therapists, dietitians and naturopathic doctors
Summary
The committee approved multiple pending rule dockets from the Allied Health Advisory Board that reorganize licensure chapters, remove incongruent inactive-license fees and clarify continuing-education and fee provisions for several professions.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved a series of pending rule dockets presented by Oren (Orin) Duffin, program director for the Health Professions Bureau and executive officer for the Allied Health Advisory Board, affecting athletic trainers, respiratory therapists, dietitians and naturopathic medical doctors.
Duffin told the committee each advisory board held public meetings, negotiated-rulemaking sessions and public hearings with at least five days' notice and that the Idaho Athletic Trainers Association, Idaho Society of Respiratory Care, Idaho Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Idaho Association of Naturopathic Physicians were provided copies of proposed changes. He said no substantive stakeholder comments were received for those dockets and that the revisions were primarily organizational (consistent formatting across chapters), removal of redundant language and striking inactive-license renewal fees that are incongruent with Idaho Code 67-26-14(9).
Key substantive points included:
- Athletic trainers (docket 24-3305-2401): licensure language reorganized from practice standards; inactive license renewal fee removed.
- Respiratory therapists (docket 24-3306-2401): continuing education language was simplified to allow any CE course deemed germane to the profession; fee tables consolidated and language added clarifying dual licensure/permits and striking the inactive renewal fee.
- Dietitians (docket 24-3307-2401): no substantive changes besides striking an inactive conversion fee inconsistent with statute.
- Naturopathic medical doctors (docket 24-3304-2401): reorganized chapter with standard sections and removal of inactive renewal fee inconsistent with statute.
Committee motions to approve each docket were made (motions noted in the transcript by Senator Van Orden, Senator Blaylock and others) and carried by voice votes.
What this means: the allied-health chapters will reflect a consistent format across the division, rely less on redundant language, and no longer include inactive-license renewal fees that division staff determined conflicted with statute. The change to respiratory therapy continuing education broadens acceptable CE to include any courses considered germane to the profession rather than only board-approved courses.
Votes at a glance
- Athletic trainers (24-3305-2401): motion to approve by Senator Van Orden; seconded; voice vote; approved. - Respiratory therapists (24-3306-2401): motion to approve by Senator Van Orden; seconded; voice vote; approved. - Dietitians (24-3307-2401): motion to approve by Senator Blaylock; seconded; voice vote; approved. - Naturopathic medical doctors (24-3304-2401): motion to approve by Senator Van Orden; seconded; voice vote; approved.
Sources: Testimony and presentations by Oren Duffin; committee motions and voice votes recorded in the hearing transcript.
