Effective July 1, 2007
HISTORY
A Better Way Coalition Advance Care
Planning Committee began studying Idaho “code status
issues” in 2005. Committee members identified “lack of
portability of the DNR in Idaho” as a significant
problem due to the negative effects on people nearing
the end of life. Searching for a solution to this
problem the “POLST” (Physician’s Orders for Lift
Sustaining Treatment) and the “POST” (Physician’s Orders
for Scope of Treatment) programs were reviewed for
suitability in Idaho. Both were deemed a good fit and
the Idaho Health Care Association (Coalition member)
presented a joint resolution to the 2006 legislature. It
passed and a POST Task Force in the Office of the Idaho
Attorney General developed the statute that passed the
2007 legislature. It was signed into law by the Governor
on March 27, 2007.
RS 16757 “POST” STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Last year [2006], the legislature adopted
House Concurrent Resolution 40 ("HCR4O"), which directed
the Department of Health and Welfare and the Attorney
General to develop a form that could replace "do not
resuscitate" ("DNR") orders used at hospitals and other
health care institutions within the State of Idaho.
HCR4O also directed the Department of Health and Welfare
and the Attorney General to suggest necessary statutory
changes to allow for the adoption of such a form. This
legislation is in response to HCR4O. The physician
orders for scope of treatment ("POST") form envisioned
by this legislation would be recognized by all medical
care providers and health institutions within the State
of Idaho. The POST form provides greater flexibility
over the old DNR forms and, more importantly, provides a
high degree of portability. In other words, the POST
form stays with the patient, rather than staying with
the institution. Another advantage to the POST form is
that it is signed by both the doctor and the patient or
the patient’s health care agent. Both the doctor and the
patient are involved in the process that results in the
issuance of the POST.
The POST form does not replace a living
will, although it does replace the statutes on DNR
orders. While health care institutions may continue to
utilize their own DNR orders within the confines of the
institution, the POST form proposed by this legislation
is intended to be portable. It is hoped that the POST
form will become the standard DNR form.
Full Bill:
Idaho DNR and Comfort One orders
created before July 1, 2007 will remain in effect and
will not need to be modified unless so desired.
CONTACT
Bill von Tagen, Deputy Attorney General,
208-334-4140
Wayne Denny, Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) Standards & Compliance Section Manager,
208-334-4000
POST Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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