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Veterans services seeks temporary nursing pool, waits on federal waiver for veterans home rebuild
Summary
The Idaho Division of Veterans Services told lawmakers it plans a pilot program to hire 22 temporary benefited nurses to reduce expensive contract labor and is still awaiting a federal waiver under the Build America, Buy America requirement before proceeding with a federally funded Boise home rebuild.
Frances Lippitt of the Legislative Services Office presented the Division of Veterans Services’ fiscal history and FY 2026 requests before Administrator Mark Shampel and deputy staff answered committee questions on staffing, construction and federal grant timing.
The division said it faces a persistent staffing shortage for skilled nursing positions at four state veterans homes. To reduce reliance on premium-priced contract nursing agencies, the division requested permission to transfer $1.2 million of operating appropriation into personnel costs to hire a pool of 22 temporary, benefited state employees to work shifts across homes.
Why it matters: Contract nursing has materially increased the division’s operating costs. The division said contracted staff cost roughly three times what in-house state staff do, and that a temporary pool would both reduce expense and improve…
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