Healthcare

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 3716: Allow use of expired opioid antagonists

This bill allows schools, individuals, and medical professionals in Montana to use expired opioid overdose reversal medication like naloxone without legal liability. It authorizes schools to stock and administer expired medication to students or others during an overdose emergency, while also permitting individuals who have received prescriptions to possess, store, and use expired doses. The law provides immunity from civil and criminal penalties for schools, employees, eligible recipients, and medical practitioners who act in good faith, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Schools must follow specific protocols for training, storage, and parental notification, and the bill amends existing state statutes to clarify these protections and procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to life-saving overdose reversal medication by removing legal barriers for schools and individuals, directly improving patient safety and healthcare emergency response.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 3527: Create the building families act

This bill, known as the Building Families Act, requires health insurance plans in Montana to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment services, including in vitro fertilization, for covered individuals and their dependents. The law applies to small group, large group, and individual health insurance policies issued or renewed in the state and establishes a lifetime coverage limit of at least $25,000 for fertilization services. Insurance plans must treat infertility medications and services the same as other prescription medications and cannot impose different deductibles, waiting periods, or benefit restrictions on infertility care compared to other medical services. The bill defines infertility based on age-specific timeframes for attempting pregnancy and includes coverage for cases involving life-threatening genetic diseases.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates health insurance coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment services, expanding access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 5, 2025

LC 1785: Generally revise insurance laws related to prior authorization of chronic conditions

This bill updates Montana's insurance laws to improve how health plans handle prior authorization for chronic conditions and ensure fair review processes. It requires health insurance companies to honor prior authorization decisions for at least three months when a patient switches plans, preventing unnecessary delays in care. The legislation also mandates that only physicians with relevant medical expertise can make adverse coverage decisions or review patient grievances, ensuring decisions are made by qualified medical professionals. Additionally, the bill clarifies key definitions used in insurance law, including what constitutes a chronic condition and adverse determination, to provide clearer standards for utilization review organizations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to care by preventing authorization delays and ensuring qualified physicians review coverage decisions for chronic conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 5, 2025

LC 1957: Revise prior authorization laws

This bill amends Montana's prior authorization laws to limit when health insurers can require approval before covering certain prescription drugs. It directly affects patients with diabetes, asthma, COPD, and chronic lung diseases, as well as those taking generic medications or long-acting antipsychotic injections. Key provisions prohibit prior authorization for oral and inhaled generic drugs, inhaled asthma and lung disease medications, insulin, and long-acting injectable antipsychotics after a patient has used the drug without interruption for six months. Additionally, the bill requires insurers to provide a list of reasonable therapeutic alternatives when denying coverage for a prescription drug and mandates that adverse determinations be reviewed by a physician specializing in the relevant medical condition.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill limits prior authorization requirements for essential medications, improving patient access to healthcare and reducing barriers to treatment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 3027: Increase capacity in the family education and support services program

This bill directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services to expand the Family Education and Support Services Program so it can serve all qualified families applying by July 1, 2026. The program, which provides education and support to families, must report annually to the legislature on how families benefit, how the program prepares them for future health care services, and how participants compare to non-participants. The legislation aims to serve a number of families similar to the 2016 levels and is effective from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Family Education and Support Services Program to serve more families, improving access to health-related support and education services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2949: Generally revise occupational licensing laws

This bill, titled the Expanding Physician Access Act, creates a new pathway for internationally trained physicians to obtain provisional medical licenses in Montana. It directly affects healthcare providers seeking to fill staffing gaps, particularly in rural and primary care areas, by allowing them to sponsor qualified international physicians for employment. The bill requires these physicians to have completed medical training, passed relevant licensing exams, and demonstrated English fluency, while maintaining existing safety and competency standards. After three years of continuous practice, provisional licenses automatically convert to full licenses, and the law ensures physicians cannot begin work without proper federal immigration authorization.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to healthcare by creating pathways for internationally trained physicians to fill staffing gaps, particularly in rural areas, directly improving patient access to medical services.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill creates pathway for internationally trained physicians to obtain licenses, supporting immigrant integration and access to healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands employment opportunities for internationally trained physicians, addressing healthcare staffing gaps and supporting worker access to employment.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Primary Care Professional Licensing Tags Licensing

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 14, 2025

LC 4373: Confirm governor's appointee for board of behavioral health

This bill confirms the Governor's appointment of Michael Aranda from Belgrade, Montana, to serve as a member of the Board of Behavioral Health. The resolution formally approves the appointment submitted by the Governor on January 16, 2026, for a term ending July 1, 2028. By passing this measure, the Senate completes the legislative process required to finalize the individual's membership on the state board. The bill directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the Secretary of State and the Governor to officially record the confirmation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill confirms appointment to Board of Behavioral Health, supporting mental health services administration and oversight within healthcare system.70% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 2536: Create online portal for community assisters related to Medicaid

This bill requires the Montana Medicaid department to create an online portal by May 1, 2026, that allows community assisters to help individuals apply for Medicaid coverage and submit required documents. The portal will enable community assisters to check application status, view notices, report eligibility changes, see required actions, and update contact information for applicants and enrollees. Community assisters are defined as people or organizations that help individuals apply for health coverage under the Montana Medicaid program. The bill also allows applicants to designate one or more community assisters to access these portal features on their behalf.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates online portal to improve Medicaid application access for community assisters, enhancing healthcare service delivery and patient access.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates creation of online portal for Medicaid applications, advancing digital access and administrative efficiency for community assisters and applicants.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Digital Government

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 1934: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer

This bill amends Montana's insurance laws to prohibit health insurers from requiring patients with advanced metastatic cancer to fail other drugs or prove a history of drug failure before covering FDA-approved prescription drugs for their condition. The provision applies only to drugs that align with best cancer treatment practices, are supported by evidence-based literature, and have FDA approval. Additionally, the bill expands group health insurance coverage requirements for state legislators, judges, and their spouses, allowing them to remain in group plans after retirement or leaving office under specific conditions. These changes directly affect health insurance companies, cancer patients, and public officials in Montana.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands cancer drug coverage requirements, improves patient access to FDA-approved treatments, and protects patient rights by removing unnecessary drug failure mandates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 2942: Generally revise laws related to electronic health care records

This bill requires health insurance carriers in Montana to establish and maintain specific application programming interfaces that allow patients and providers to access and exchange electronic health information. It mandates that insurers implement these digital connection points for patient records, provider directories, payer exchanges, and prior authorization processes by the dates set by federal regulations. Additionally, the law prohibits healthcare providers from blocking access to certain critical medical test results, such as cancer diagnoses, genetic markers, HIV status, and hepatitis indicators, requiring these results be shared with patients within 72 hours of finalization. The legislation also includes standard provisions for codification into state law, severability, and an effective date of January 1, 2026, with one section taking effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates electronic health records access and exchange, improving patient access to medical information and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates electronic health record access via APIs, promoting digital connectivity and patient data accessibility in healthcare.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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