Idaho Lawmaker Fights to Restore Disability Caregiver Program

Program that paid parents to care for children with severe disabilities was ended last year, leaving families without options.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Idaho House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel is pushing legislation to restore a state program that paid parents and spouses to care for their loved ones with severe disabilities. The program was terminated in 2025, leaving some of the state's most vulnerable families without options, unable to find outside caregivers and unable to be compensated for providing the care themselves. Rubel's bill would limit participation to 1,000 families and cap paid caregiver hours at 25 per week for parents or spouses, with new Department of Health and Welfare staff dedicated to monitoring for fraud, waste and abuse.

Why it matters

The termination of the program has left many Idaho families in financial duress, as they are unable to find and afford outside caregivers for their loved ones with severe disabilities. This issue highlights the challenges faced by families caring for individuals with complex needs, as well as the broader caregiver shortage in the state.

The details

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Idaho began paying parents and spouses to serve as the caregiver for their child or partner with disabilities at the same hourly rate the state pays third-party agencies to provide care. However, in 2025, the Department of Health and Welfare ended the program, citing concerns over overuse and potential fraud and abuse. Now, Rubel is pushing legislation to bring the program back with additional safeguards.

  • The program was terminated in 2025.
  • Rubel's bill is scheduled to be introduced on Monday, March 2.

The players

Ilana Rubel

Idaho House Minority Leader who is pushing legislation to restore the state's disability caregiver program.

Jessica Godsill

A single mother in Nampa, Idaho whose 8-year-old son Liam Retherford has a rare condition that requires around-the-clock care. The terminated program was a lifeline for Godsill.

Liam Retherford

Godsill's 8-year-old son who has a rare condition that left him with nearly no muscle strength at birth and requires around-the-clock care.

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What they’re saying

“This probably needed to be resolved last year. It's not fair to these families to have pushed it this far.”

— Ilana Rubel, Idaho House Minority Leader (KTVB)

“Nobody's going to care for a child like a loving parent.”

— Jessica Godsill (KTVB)

“When I first found out that we were going to be losing this program, the amount of fear I felt, it was awful. It was almost like the fear I felt when I first found out my child's diagnosis and there was no information out there for me.”

— Jessica Godsill (KTVB)

What’s next

The bill will be introduced on Monday, March 2, and whether it will receive a full hearing will be decided by lawmakers in the House Health and Welfare Committee on that same day.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the critical need for support and resources for families caring for loved ones with severe disabilities, especially as states face caregiver shortages and budget constraints. The restoration of this program could provide a lifeline for many vulnerable Idaho families.