Healthcare (Medicaid)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 13, 2025

LC 1382: Provide for continuous healthy Montana kids plan eligibility for children under 6

This bill directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services to seek approval for allowing children under six years old to remain enrolled in the Healthy Montana Kids Plan even if their family's income changes, preventing them from losing coverage due to financial fluctuations. The legislation requires the department to submit waiver requests to federal authorities by July 1, 2025, and to implement continuous eligibility within six months of approval if granted. Key provisions include maintaining coverage through the end of the month a child turns six, reducing administrative costs by eliminating repeated eligibility checks, and improving access to preventive care and early intervention services for young children. The bill also mandates that the department report to the legislature on the outcomes of these changes, including whether coverage gaps decrease and administrative expenses are reduced.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands health coverage for children under six by allowing continuous enrollment despite income changes, protecting access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Primary Care

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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 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 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 21, 2025

LC 898: Generally revise laws regarding gender transition treatment

This bill amends Montana laws to establish a 25-year statute of limitations for tort claims related to gender transition treatment received during minority, allowing lawsuits to be filed within four years of discovering an injury's cause. It requires private insurance plans and public employee and university system insurance to provide reciprocal coverage for detransition treatment when gender transition treatment is covered, ensuring those who receive transition care can also access reversal procedures. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids to cover detransition treatment in certain situations, while also amending existing insurance statutes to maintain coverage continuity for retirees and their families.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands insurance coverage for detransition treatment when transition care is covered, protecting patient access to healthcare services and rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 5, 2024

LC 724: Provide presumptive eligibility for Medicaid coverage of home and community-based services

This bill establishes a presumptive eligibility process for Medicaid home and community-based services in Montana for individuals with physical disabilities and elderly persons. It allows qualified applicants to receive services such as personal care, meal delivery, and medical equipment without first completing full Medicaid eligibility determinations. The program requires a screening process conducted by trained staff at designated agencies, including hospitals, tribal entities, or aging service organizations, which includes a functional assessment and self-attestation of income and residency requirements. Coverage under this presumptive eligibility is limited to one 12-month period per applicant, and recipients must apply for full Medicaid coverage within 10 days of receiving services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid coverage for home and community-based services, improving access to essential healthcare for disabled and elderly individuals without requiring full eligibility determinations first.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 335: Generally revise laws related to dental insurance

Senate Bill 335, known as the "Montana Dental Insurance Transparency and Accountability Act," establishes new regulations for dental insurance companies in Montana. It requires dental insurers to annually report their "dental loss ratio" (DLR), which measures the percentage of premium dollars spent on patient care, to the state's commissioner of securities and insurance. This reported DLR information, along with other plan details, will be made publicly available online for consumers to compare plans. The bill also mandates consumer rebates from dental insurers if their aggregated dental loss ratio falls below a certain threshold over a three-year period. This act applies to individual and group dental insurance plans, but excludes health plans with embedded dental benefits already subject to federal medical loss ratio requirements, as well as Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires dental insurers to report DLR publicly, enhancing consumer transparency and accountability in healthcare insurance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 3802: Revise medicaid buy-in program to include children with disabilities

This bill (LC 3802) expands Montana's Medicaid Buy-In Program to include children with disabilities who were previously ineligible due to asset limits. It removes the $30,000 resource threshold for children under 19 with disabilities seeking coverage through the program, aligning their eligibility criteria with those for adults with disabilities under Section 53-6-195. The change directly affects families of children with disabilities who exceed the prior asset limit but meet income requirements. The bill amends Montana Code Annotated sections 53-6-113 and 53-6-195 to implement this policy change, with funding provided through an appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands Medicaid Buy-In program eligibility, increasing state appropriations for healthcare services under State Finance (Subjects: Appropriations, Health Care Services).95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves asset limit for children with disabilities to expand Medicaid coverage, directly increasing healthcare access for a vulnerable population.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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vetoed · Montana · Senate Jun 18, 2025

SB 72: Provide presumptive eligibility for Medicaid coverage of home and community-based services

SB 72 creates a "presumptive eligibility" process for Montana Medicaid, allowing people with physical disabilities or who are elderly to immediately access home and community-based services like personal care, meal delivery, medical equipment, and emergency response systems while awaiting full Medicaid approval. It requires a screening process by trained staff (including tribal entities, hospitals, or aging agencies) to verify income, residency, and need, with applicants having 30 days to apply for ongoing Medicaid coverage. The program aims to prevent hospitalizations or institutional care by providing temporary coverage during the application period, ending after 30 days or when full eligibility is determined. The bill requires state approval from CMS before implementation and was vetoed by the governor in May 2025, with a legislative override attempt failing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates immediate Medicaid access to home/community services for disabled/elderly, expanding coverage without full approval process95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 62: Provide for phaseout of Medicaid expansion program

SB 62 would end Montana's Medicaid expansion program for able-bodied adults by prohibiting new enrollments after August 31, 2025, while requiring the Department of Public Health and Human Services to seek a federal waiver to maintain funding for current participants. The bill directly affects individuals enrolled in Montana's Medicaid expansion program who are able-bodied adults, preventing them from joining after the 2025 deadline. Key mechanisms include a strict enrollment cutoff date, a requirement for the department to apply for federal funding continuity, and authorization to implement program integrity measures like biannual eligibility reviews. The bill does not change coverage for individuals with specific health needs or those already enrolled continuously before September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcarePhases out Medicaid expansion for able-bodied adults, restricting access to health coverage and ending new enrollments after 2025.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Public Health

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