HB 510, a withdrawn 2025 Montana bill, aimed to modernize Medicaid services for clients by requiring the Department of Public Health and Human Services to: (1) accept online/phone applications and electronic documents, (2) use plain language and translate materials into Montana's five most common languages, (3) provide mobile-friendly technology for client access, (4) offer hotline callback options with wait times, and (5) submit quarterly service reports to legislators. It also mandated reopening 10 public assistance offices by 2026 based on client demand and disenrollment data, with $3 million annually allocated for implementation. The bill directly affected Montana Medicaid clients, providers, and county offices by streamlining enrollment, reducing administrative errors, and improving accessibility. It was introduced on February 14, 2025, but withdrawn just days later under House Rule H30-50(3)(b).
SB 86 revises Montana's laws governing automatic external defibrillator (AED) programs. It requires entities (like schools, businesses, or public venues) using AEDs to create written plans detailing AED locations, authorized users, CPR/AED training, coordination with local emergency medical services, and maintenance records. The bill eliminates the Department of Public Health's authority to create rules about AEDs and updates enforcement: violations now trigger a written cease order from the department, with entities able to request a hearing within 30 days. These changes aim to clarify AED program requirements and streamline oversight.
SB 524 revises laws concerning Category D assisted living facilities, which cater to residents who may pose a danger to themselves or others and require assistance with daily living activities. The bill allows these facilities to be independent or co-located with others, limiting them to 15 residents, and clarifies that while not required, prior authorization is needed for any use of seclusion or restraints. It mandates the Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide technical assistance and a specialized reimbursement model. Additionally, it establishes new processes for diverting individuals from the Montana State Hospital or committing them directly to Category D facilities.
This bill establishes a state licensure system for doulas, defining them as nonmedical professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum. Beginning January 1, 2027, individuals wishing to practice as state-licensed doulas must obtain a license from the Department of Labor and Industry. Licensure requires paying fees, completing specific competencies, and adhering to professional conduct standards. Additionally, the bill allows the Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide Medicaid coverage for services offered by state-licensed doulas.
SB 521 directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services and Office of Public Instruction to create a plan expanding mental health education to all public schools. The plan must include specific elements like curriculum design, funding support strategies, data collection methods, and cost estimates for addressing issues like bullying, suicide, and substance use. All public schools in Montana would be directly affected if the plan is implemented. The bill requires progress reports by September 2025 and a final plan by May 2026. It mandates the development of a roadmap but does not provide immediate funding or require schools to adopt the program.
HB 732, the "Prompt Cost Report Reimbursement Act," revises how the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services reimburses critical access hospitals participating in the state's Medicaid program. The bill requires the department to perform a tentative settlement and make interim payments to these hospitals within 240 days of a cost report being submitted to the Medicare administrative contractor. A final settlement and adjustment will occur after the Medicare administrative contractor completes its full review or audit. This process aims to align Montana Medicaid's reimbursement with Medicare's, ensuring more timely payments to critical access hospitals for services rendered.
HB 473 grants the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) the authority to adopt Medicare fee schedules issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) through administrative rule. A key provision allows for the automatic incorporation of future updates to these federal fee schedules. This streamlines the process for DPHHS to align state reimbursement rates with federal Medicare standards. The bill affects the DPHHS's rulemaking procedures and indirectly impacts healthcare providers and beneficiaries whose services are reimbursed based on these schedules.
HB 185 directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to implement continuous eligibility for children under six years old in the Healthy Montana Kids plan. This means eligible children would remain enrolled in the program until their sixth birthday, regardless of changes in family income or other circumstances that might otherwise make them ineligible. DPHHS is required to apply for the necessary federal waivers and state plan amendments by July 1, 2025, and implement the continuous eligibility within six months of federal approval. The bill aims to provide consistent health coverage for young children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
HB 386 directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services to apply for the reinstatement of 12-month continuous Medicaid eligibility for specific groups. This would affect parents, caretaker relatives, and adults covered under Medicaid expansion. The department is required to submit amendments to existing federal waivers by September 30, 2025, to restore this continuous eligibility, which was previously allowed before certain waiver changes in 2021 and 2022. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage and approval.
SB 372 establishes minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for Montana hospitals, requiring specific limits in key units (e.g., 1 nurse per critical ER patient, 2 per ICU patient, 4 per medical-surgical unit). It mandates hospitals to create annual staffing plans with input from direct-care nurses, form committees where at least half the members are frontline nurses, and publicly post these plans. Hospitals must track and report actual nurse-to-patient ratios for each shift and unit, ensuring transparency for staff, patients, and the public. The bill directly affects all Montana hospitals licensed by the Department of Public Health, requiring concrete changes to staffing practices and reporting.
