§ 56-1708 — OFFICE OF PATIENT OMBUDSMAN

If crisis standards of care are declared by the director, there will be established within the governor’s office an office of patient ombudsman to receive calls, emails, and written complaints from Idaho patients, residents, or families seeking help in obtaining health care services. The ombudsman shall advocate for the rights and needs of patients and residents negatively impacted by crisis standards of care. The office shall operate for the duration of the crisis standards of care and shall cease to operate no later than three (3) weeks after the declaration of crisis standards of care is terminated. The ombudsman will be provided with sufficient resources for staffing and advertising. When an office of patient ombudsman has been established, the governor’s office shall provide a written report to the president pro tempore of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate health and welfare committee, and the house of representatives health and welfare committee that contains the number of contacts received, cases engaged, and resolutions obtained by the office of patient ombudsman.

Legislative History

[56-1708, added 2022, ch. 253, sec. 1, p. 831.]