SB 136 amends Montana's criminal code (Section 45-2-211, MCA) to state that a patient's consent to physician aid in dying is not a defense to a homicide charge against the physician. The bill defines "physician aid in dying" as a physician prescribing a lethal medication for the patient to self-administer, excluding standard comfort care or withholding life-sustaining treatment. This directly affects physicians who provide such aid, making their actions prosecutable as homicide if consent is claimed as a defense. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not impact existing practices of comfort care or end-of-life treatment under Montana law.
HB 274 sought to establish a medical respite care program in Montana for homeless individuals who are eligible for Medicaid. This program would have provided short-term housing in residential facilities with supportive medical services for those recovering from illness or injury but not requiring hospitalization. Services would have included treatment plan monitoring, medication management, immunizations, discharge planning, and transportation for medical appointments. The bill directed the Department of Public Health and Human Services to seek federal approval for the program and to report annually on its costs and the number of individuals served.
HB 783 aimed to revise health insurance laws by requiring coverage for specific conditions and treatments. It would have mandated individual health insurance policies to cover glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome when medically necessary, including for diagnoses of diabetes or class 3 obesity. While allowing standard cost-sharing and cost containment measures, the bill prohibited special limitations on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Additionally, it sought to add other mandatory coverages, such as fertility preservation services and therapies for Down syndrome, to state group health plans. The bill would have affected individuals with these conditions and those covered by applicable health insurance policies in the state.
HB 386 directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services to apply for the reinstatement of 12-month continuous Medicaid eligibility for specific groups. This would affect parents, caretaker relatives, and adults covered under Medicaid expansion. The department is required to submit amendments to existing federal waivers by September 30, 2025, to restore this continuous eligibility, which was previously allowed before certain waiver changes in 2021 and 2022. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage and approval.
House Bill 565, also known as the "Building Families Act," would have required certain health insurance policies in Montana to cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). This mandate would have applied to small group, large group, and individual health insurance policies issued or renewed in the state. The bill defined infertility based on factors like age and time trying to conceive, or a physician's findings. It set a lifetime coverage minimum of at least $40,000 for fertilization services and aimed to ensure fertility coverage was not subject to different limitations than other medical benefits.
HB 385 proposed establishing the School Mental Health Promotion Pilot Program, administered by the Office of Public Instruction. This program would have provided grants to Montana school districts to implement innovative, student-led, and locally determined initiatives aimed at improving student mental health. Districts applying for grants would have needed to demonstrate specific needs, broad community support in their application development, and plans for mental health promotion activities and program evaluation. The bill proposed annual grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for a two-year period, with $250,000 appropriated annually from the general fund. The program was set to terminate on June 30, 2029.
HB 273, the "Montana Medical Debt Patient Protection Act," aimed to limit how health care providers and third-party collectors pursue medical debt from patients in Montana. The bill would have prohibited certain collection actions, including wage garnishment, placing liens on a patient's primary residence, and reporting adverse information to credit agencies. It also mandated a 180-day waiting period after the first bill before "extraordinary collection actions," such as filing lawsuits or selling debt, could begin, along with requiring a 30-day notice to the patient. Additionally, it sought to provide patients with an opportunity to appeal insurance decisions before a bill went to collections.
HB 526 proposes that the state join the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) compact. This initiative allows Advanced Practice Registered Nurses licensed in one member state to practice in other compact states without needing to obtain a separate license for each. The bill establishes a framework for uniform licensure requirements and facilitates the exchange of information between states for regulatory and enforcement purposes. Its aim is to streamline the licensing process for APRNs and enhance their ability to provide care across state lines, potentially increasing access to healthcare services.
HB 943 establishes the Montana Rare Disease Advisory Council within the Department of Public Health and Human Services. This 17-member council, composed of patients, caregivers, medical professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders, will provide guidance, education, and recommendations on the needs of individuals with rare diseases in Montana. Its duties include surveying patient needs, developing policy recommendations for improved access to care and treatment, publishing resources, and identifying research opportunities. The council is required to meet regularly and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature, and the bill includes an appropriation to cover initial costs.
HB 807 amends state law to prohibit individuals from being required to receive certain vaccines. Specifically, it mandates that vaccines whose use is allowed under an emergency use authorization (EUA) or those still undergoing safety trials cannot be a requirement. This applies to persons, governmental entities, employers, and public accommodations, preventing them from denying services, employment, or access based on non-receipt of such vaccines. The bill integrates this new prohibition into existing law concerning discrimination based on vaccination status.
