Healthcare

SB 88 revises Montana's certificate of need process for healthcare facilities by requiring the Department of Public Health and Human Services to publish descriptions of letters of intent on the 10th of each month in a newspaper of general circulation and on its website. It establishes a 30-day window for interested parties to request comparative review of proposals and sets clear deadlines for the department to review applications (20 working days for completeness, 90 days for final review). The bill also mandates that the department notify applicants of decisions within 5 working days after the review period ends. These changes directly affect healthcare providers seeking to acquire or expand long-term care facilities, particularly those involving 50% or more of an existing facility. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

This resolution urges Congress to amend the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to include Montanans affected by historical nuclear testing. It specifically highlights that 15 Montana counties (including Meagher, Jefferson, and Gallatin) were heavily exposed during U.S. nuclear tests from 1945-1962, as confirmed by a 1997 government study, yet Montanans remain excluded from RECA compensation. The resolution does not create new policy but formally requests Congress to revise RECA to cover these individuals, who may suffer radiation-related illnesses without access to federal aid. It is a procedural resolution, not a bill, and directs Montana’s Secretary of State to send copies to U.S. lawmakers.