Idaho Weighs Expansion of Medical School Seats to Combat Doctor Shortage
Idaho is considering a significant expansion of its medical education network, potentially adding up to 30 new state-subsidized medical school seats over the next three years, as the state continues to grapple with being last in the nation for physicians per capita.
A bill passed by the 2025 Legislature, House Bill 368, allocates $10.6 million to support Idaho students pursuing medical degrees. However, the legislation stipulates that none of the new seats will be allocated to the University of Washington’s WWAMI program, a longstanding partnership that has served Idaho students since 1972. The bill’s sponsors aim to diversify the state’s medical education options, and a task force is currently evaluating proposals from three medical schools: WWAMI, the University of Utah, and the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM). This shortage impacts access to healthcare across the state, particularly in rural communities.
WWAMI administrators are proposing to increase their Idaho student intake to 45 per year, up from the current 40, while the University of Utah is exploring expansion opportunities, citing its growing medical school and strong alumni network in Idaho. “We are open to conversations with states… about how we might expand opportunities for medical education,” university officials stated. ICOM, Idaho’s first medical school, founded in 2016, currently receives no state subsidies but could accommodate a significant increase in in-state students, according to President Tracy Farnsworth. “It’s only fair that ICOM’s current in-state students would have a chance to compete for any publicly funded aid,” Farnsworth said.
The debate highlights the challenges of securing clinical training sites and physician preceptors, essential components of medical education. The task force created by HB 368 will present its recommendations to the 2026 Legislature on January 2nd. As Idaho EdNews reported, the decision will likely shape the future of healthcare access for Idahoans for years to come, and the state faces a critical need to increase its physician supply.
