Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 191: Provide for the licensure of residential treatment centers

Senate Bill 191 establishes a new licensing system for residential treatment centers in Montana. It grants the Department of Public Health and Human Services the authority to create administrative rules for these centers, covering areas such as staff qualifications, treatment services, insurance, and background checks. The bill requires these centers to obtain accreditation from an entity approved by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with provisional licenses available during the accreditation process. Finally, it extends eligibility for appropriate educational opportunities to children placed in these newly defined residential treatment centers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensing standards requiring CMS-approved accreditation and insurance compliance for residential treatment centers, strengthening quality oversight in healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed both · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HJ 35: Joint resolution urging changes to federal wildfire policy

HJ 35 is a joint resolution from the Montana Legislature urging federal officials to modify current federal land management and wildfire policies. It calls for an aggressive initial attack on wildfires across all federal lands and for federal forest roads to remain open for access and fire suppression. The resolution also recommends that EPA air quality standards include wildfire smoke and that federal "let it burn" policies be reversed, ensuring NEPA processes are followed. Finally, it advocates for increased involvement of state and local governments and stakeholder groups in federal fire management decisions to protect Montana's communities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdvocates for EPA air quality standards including wildfire smoke and reversing 'let it burn' policies to protect natural resources and reduce pollution from wildfires.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill advocates including wildfire smoke in EPA air quality standards, a public health program, strengthening air quality measures affecting health.80% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly urges federal forest roads to remain open for fire suppression access, directly supporting transportation infrastructure maintenance and access.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 397: Revise laws related to privacy in mental health digital service

HB 397 establishes confidentiality standards for mental health digital services. It defines these services as mobile applications or websites that collect, use, or access information related to an individual's mental health or substance use disorder, market themselves as facilitating such services, and use the information for diagnosis, treatment, or management. The bill subjects these services to existing health care information disclosure and confidentiality provisions. It also provides for enforcement and remedies for individuals whose information is disclosed in violation of these standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes confidentiality standards for mental health digital services, protecting patient privacy under existing healthcare confidentiality laws, aligning with patient rights and mental health support.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyHB 397 extends existing health privacy laws to digital mental health services, enforcing confidentiality standards for data handling in technology platforms, thus protecting user privacy.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 398: Generally revise insurance laws related to prior authorization of chronic conditions

HB 398 revises health insurance laws regarding utilization review, impacting patients and health insurance companies. The bill requires health plans to honor previously approved health care services for at least three months when a patient changes plans, ensuring continuity of care. It mandates that only licensed physicians, specializing in the relevant condition, can make or review decisions to deny or reduce health care services (adverse determinations). Additionally, it clarifies the definition of "adverse determination" and other related terms within insurance law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires continuity of care for chronic conditions and mandates specialist review for denials, protecting patient access to approved treatments and reducing arbitrary insurance denials.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 476: Establish grant program for newborn safety devices

HB 476 establishes a grant program to fund the installation and maintenance of newborn safety devices. The Department of Public Health and Human Services will award competitive grants, up to $20,000 per applicant, to eligible fire departments, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies. The department is also responsible for creating rules for the application process and evaluation criteria. The bill appropriates $160,000 from the general fund for this program, which is effective July 1, 2025, and terminates on June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $160,000 from general fund for newborn safety device grants, directly funding a public service program under budget authority.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds newborn safety devices in hospitals via public health department, directly supporting infant healthcare services and public health programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 163: Generally revise privacy laws related to biometric, genetic, and neural data

SB 163 revises Montana's Genetic Information Privacy Act by expanding its scope to include neurotechnology data. The bill extends privacy protections to information concerning an individual's central or peripheral nervous system activity, such as brain data, collected by various devices. It adds new definitions for neurotechnology and neurotechnology data, and revises provisions related to privacy notices and exceptions. The intent is to safeguard consumers' sensitive neurotechnology data, particularly when collected by non-invasive devices outside of medical settings. This aims to provide similar privacy protections for neurotechnology data as currently exist for genetic data.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands privacy protections for neurotechnology data, directly safeguarding sensitive health information under healthcare privacy standards90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands privacy protections to neural data under Montana's Genetic Information Privacy Act, explicitly safeguarding sensitive neurotechnology data per bill intent.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 109: Revise workers' compensation definition of treating physician to include physical therapists

SB 109 revises Montana's workers' compensation law by expanding the definition of "treating physician." This bill includes physical therapists within that definition, allowing them to serve as primary treating providers for injured workers. This change directly affects workers seeking care for injuries and physical therapists providing treatment under workers' compensation claims. The bill amends Section 39-71-116, MCA.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands healthcare access by allowing physical therapists as primary treating providers under workers' comp, improving patient access to care without physician referral.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 347: Revise medical resident licensure laws

SB 347 revises medical resident licensure laws in Montana, directly affecting individuals undergoing medical training in the state. The bill removes unlicensed trainees from existing licensing exemptions, meaning they will now be required to obtain a license. It also revises definitions, including adding "PGY" (post-graduate year) and defining a "Resident" as someone enrolled in an approved residency program who holds a valid resident license to practice medicine. These changes clarify and update the qualifications and licensing requirements for medical residents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies medical resident licensure requirements, strengthening professional standards and oversight in healthcare training without restricting access or funding.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 211: Revise emergency use of epinephrine in school setting to include nasal spray

SB 211 revises the emergency use of epinephrine in school settings. The bill expands the definition of "medication" that students with asthma, severe allergies, or anaphylaxis can possess and self-administer to include epinephrine nasal spray. It also allows public and nonpublic schools to maintain a stock supply of epinephrine nasal spray, in addition to autoinjectable epinephrine, for emergency administration by school nurses or other authorized personnel. These changes provide schools with additional options for responding to severe allergic reactions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands school emergency medical protocols for student health, enhancing safety and access to care within educational settings.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands emergency epinephrine access in schools for allergic reactions, improving patient safety and access to critical healthcare services in educational settings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 279: Adopt the dietitian licensure compact

SB 279 enacts the Dietitian Licensure Compact, which allows licensed dietitians and nutritionists to practice in multiple participating states through a "compact privilege" without needing to obtain a separate license in each state. This bill aims to improve public access to dietetics services and reduce administrative burdens for practitioners and state licensing authorities. It establishes uniform requirements for licensure portability, including criminal background checks, and supports military members and their spouses. The compact also enhances cooperation among states in regulating the profession and protecting public health and safety.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables multi-state practice for dietitians, directly improving public access to dietetics services per bill's stated goal.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare