Healthcare

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 14, 2025

LC 2875: Increase physician assistant membership on the board of medical examiners

This bill proposes changing the composition of Montana's Board of Medical Examiners by increasing the number of physician assistants from one to two members while reducing the number of doctors of medicine from five to four. The legislation directly affects the state medical board's membership structure and would alter how medical licensing and disciplinary decisions are made. Under the new provisions, the board would still include one doctor of osteopathy, one podiatrist, one nutritionist, one emergency care provider, and two public members alongside the adjusted numbers of physicians and physician assistants. This change aims to increase representation of physician assistants on the board while maintaining the total membership count at twelve.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases physician assistant representation on medical board, potentially improving patient care oversight and diversifying medical decision-making.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 14, 2025

LC 1384: Provide coverage for medical respite care for medicaid-eligible homeless people

This bill establishes a medical respite care program for homeless individuals in Montana who are eligible for Medicaid and are too ill to recover at home but not sick enough for hospital care. The program allows eligible providers to offer short-term housing with supportive medical services, including medication management, treatment planning, disease screening, and care coordination. The Department of Public Health and Human Services must apply for federal approval to implement the program by January 1, 2026, and will be required to submit annual reports on the number of people served, program costs, and healthcare savings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid coverage for homeless individuals by establishing medical respite care program, improving access to healthcare services for vulnerable population.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides medical respite care housing for homeless Medicaid-eligible individuals, directly addressing homelessness and offering short-term supportive housing services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Public Health Homelessness

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 26, 2025

LC 2803: Generally revise medicaid laws to reduce or eliminate waiting lists

This bill directs the Montana Medicaid department to take steps to reduce or eliminate waiting lists for covered health services. It requires the department to use administrative, programmatic, and funding tools such as adjusting reimbursement rates or applying for federal waivers to address these delays. The law specifically prioritizes waiting lists for senior and long-term care, behavioral health, dental services, family education support, and home-based services for people with developmental disabilities. Additionally, the department must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing current waiting list sizes, reduction efforts, and expected timelines for eliminating each list.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aims to reduce or eliminate waiting lists for Medicaid services, improving access to healthcare for seniors, behavioral health, dental, and developmental disability services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 29, 2025

LC 1775: Establish the child care workforce recruitment and retention support payment program

This bill establishes a new program in Montana to help child care facilities recruit and keep qualified staff by providing financial support payments. Administered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the program allocates $59.9 million for each of the fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to eligible licensed day care centers, group day care homes, and family day care homes. Payments are distributed monthly based on the number of workers employed and can be used for wage supplements, benefits, signing bonuses, longevity bonuses, facility costs, equipment, professional development, and mental health support for children in family day care homes. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2025, and designates the funding as part of the ongoing base for future legislative sessions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $59.9M annually to fund child care workforce recruitment and retention, directly increasing state spending on essential public services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $59.9M annually to child care workforce recruitment and retention, supporting early childhood health services and public health programs through staffing improvements.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides $59.9M annually to child care facilities for wage supplements and staff retention, directly strengthening worker compensation and employment stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 7, 2025

LC 584: Revise the Medicaid expansion program

This bill revises Montana's Medicaid expansion program by introducing new fees and community engagement requirements for participants. It requires individuals aged 19 to 55 to complete 80 hours of work, education, or community activities each month to receive coverage, while also establishing taxpayer integrity fees for those with significant assets like excess real estate equity or multiple vehicles. The legislation creates a monthly fee of $100 plus additional charges based on asset value above certain thresholds, and imposes fees on nonprofit organizations with Medicaid-eligible members. These changes aim to maintain program integrity by linking benefits to active participation and limiting access for those with substantial financial resources.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill introduces new fees and work requirements for Medicaid expansion, effectively restricting access to healthcare coverage and increasing financial barriers for participants.85% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts Medicaid coverage by adding work requirements and fees, limiting patient access to healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 631: Revise pharmacy laws

This bill revises Montana's pharmacy laws to update definitions, clarify the role of pharmacy technicians, and remove outdated requirements for in-state and out-of-state mail-order pharmacies. It grants the Board of Pharmacy expanded rulemaking authority, requires clinical pharmacist practitioners to obtain an endorsement to practice, and eliminates old notification rules for biosimilar products and generic drug signage. The legislation also clarifies pharmacy wholesale distribution licenses and repeals several outdated sections of the state code. These changes directly affect pharmacies, pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, and the state Board of Pharmacy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill modernizes pharmacy laws, clarifies technician roles, removes outdated requirements, and grants board authority to improve healthcare delivery and access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 29, 2025

LC 4030: Revise laws related to health insurance coverage of behavioral health screening

This bill requires health insurance policies issued or renewed in Montana to cover behavioral health screening assessments using standardized, evidence-based tools at no cost to the insured. It specifically applies to individual disability policies, state employee group benefit plans, disability insurance offered in the state, and self-funded multiple welfare employment arrangements. The legislation amends existing state laws to mandate this coverage while also updating provisions related to continued group plan membership for retirees, surviving spouses, judges, and legislators.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for behavioral health screenings at no cost to insured, expanding access to mental health services and protecting patient rights.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates coverage for behavioral health screening, which supports veteran mental health services and healthcare access.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 3, 2025

LC 2530: Revising laws related to continuous medicaid eligibility

This bill directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services to apply for reinstating 12-month continuous Medicaid eligibility for parents, caretaker relatives, and adults in the Medicaid expansion population. The legislation requires the department to submit waiver amendments by September 30, 2025, to restore coverage that existed before 2022 and 2021 policy changes. If approved, eligible individuals would receive Medicaid coverage for a full year without needing to reapply or recertify their status. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the legislature.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill seeks to restore and expand Medicaid coverage for parents and expansion population, strengthening healthcare access and protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 3228: Provide for workers' compensation coverage of PTSD for first responders

This bill would allow first responders in Montana, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional facility employees, to receive workers' compensation benefits for posttraumatic stress disorder if it is diagnosed according to the American Psychiatric Association's standards and linked to their job duties. The legislation amends existing state workers' compensation laws to create a specific pathway for these claims while maintaining the requirement that the mental health condition must arise from the scope of employment. By defining "first responder" and establishing diagnostic criteria, the bill aims to provide wage-loss and medical benefits to workers who develop PTSD due to their emergency response work.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands workers' compensation coverage for PTSD among first responders, improving mental health access and benefits.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands workers' compensation benefits for first responders by including PTSD coverage, strengthening worker protections and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 1388: Require health insurance companies doing business in Montana to cover IVF treatment

This bill requires health insurance companies operating in Montana to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including in vitro fertilization, for individuals, spouses, and dependents. It mandates that all health plans offering medical coverage provide at least $40,000 in lifetime benefits for fertilization services and prohibits insurers from applying different restrictions to fertility medications or services than those applied to other prescription drugs and medical treatments. The legislation defines infertility based on specific timeframes for attempting pregnancy and includes coverage for cases involving life-threatening genetic diseases, while excluding individuals who have undergone voluntary sterilization.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for IVF and infertility treatment, expanding healthcare access and benefits for patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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