House education panel advances bill to transition Idaho's WWAMI medical arrangement and seek new partners

BOISE — The Idaho House Education Committee voted 9-5 to advance House Bill 176, a bill from Rep. Dustin Manwaring that would stop reserving new Idaho student slots in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) medical education program after the 2026–27 academic year and direct the State Board of Education to designate at least two medical‑education programs in Idaho or adjacent Mountain Time states.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Dustin Manwaring, said the measure is intended to increase Idaho medical‑education capacity, keep more state funds in Idaho and boost the pipeline of Idaho physicians. “Idaho does not have its own state run medical school,” Manwaring told the committee, saying the bill is “part of that conversation.”

Under the bill as presented, currently enrolled WWAMI students would continue in that program; no further Idaho‑reserved WWAMI slots would be created after the 2026–27 academic year. The bill also directs the State Board to ensure a majority of clinical training for Idaho‑supported students occurs in Idaho by the 2029–30 academic year, and sets a cap of not more than 60 Idaho‑supported slots. Manwaring told the committee the current seat distribution is 40 seats administered at the University of Idaho (in partnership with the University of Washington) and 10 seats at the University of Utah, and he said the state currently pays about $4,450,000 to the University of Idaho and about $9,380,000 to the University of Washington for the program.

Witnesses were split. Dr. Rusty Baker, a University of Idaho faculty member who helps run Idaho’s WWAMI classroom phase, said the University of Idaho provides the first two years of the curriculum and argued the state’s faculty can deliver a transition. “Our national board pass rate on Step 1 … is 98%, which is higher than the U.S. average,” Baker said, describing the University of Idaho’s teaching record and the program’s role in preparing students for competitive clerkships.

Representatives of the University of Washington and many WWAMI alumni and Idaho clinicians urged caution. Suzanne Allen, vice dean for rural and regional affairs at the University of Washington School of Medicine, told the committee WWAMI’s rural training network is extensive and that clinical‑site capacity in Idaho is limited; she said creating new, high‑quality clinical training sites typically requires a year or more of faculty development and local coordination. Alexis Erickson, a third‑year WWAMI medical student, and multiple alumni and faculty testified that WWAMI’s long rural rotations and local clinical relationships are a key reason many graduates remain in Idaho.

Committee members also questioned whether Utah’s legislature and the University of Utah have committed funding and capacity for any expansion. Dr. Ben Chan, associate dean for admissions and Idaho affairs at the University of Utah School of Medicine (telephonically), said Utah is working on legislative language and class‑size expansion that could accommodate Idaho students, and he said Utah and Idaho institutions have existing collaboration on rural training and residency initiatives.

After extended questioning and substitute motions, the committee voted 9‑5 to send House Bill 176 to the full House with a "do pass" recommendation. Representative Ehart made the motion to send the bill to the floor; Representative Garner moved to hold the bill in committee. The committee’s vote sends the bill to the House calendar for further consideration.

The bill, if enacted as written, would not immediately remove state funding for students already enrolled but would change where future Idaho‑reserved slots are authorized and require the State Board to identify partner programs and to increase Idaho‑based clinical training by the 2029–30 academic year.