Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 319: Generally revise health care laws related to doulas

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensure standards for doulas (nonmedical healthcare support), formalizing their role in pregnancy/postpartum care and improving professional standards within healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Public Health

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 3799: Establish a stabilization fund for medicaid

This bill (LC 3799) establishes a Medicaid Stabilization Reserve Account within Montana's state special revenue fund. It requires transferring unused state Medicaid funding at year-end to this reserve, which can only be used to maintain Medicaid matching funds during projected general fund budget shortfalls (as defined by 17-7-140). The account cannot fund other state programs, and any interest earned must be reinvested. This directly affects Montana's Medicaid program and state budget management by creating a dedicated buffer to prevent cuts to Medicaid services during revenue shortfalls, effective for fiscal year 2025 and beyond.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Medicaid Stabilization Reserve to maintain funding during budget shortfalls, promoting fiscal responsibility in state budget management without altering tax structure.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Medicaid Stabilization Reserve to maintain funding during budget shortfalls, preventing defunding of healthcare program per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 26, 2025

LC 4205: Provide for a hospital community benefit fee

This bill requires nonprofit hospitals in Montana to report their community benefit spending (like charity care and health programs) to the state health department. If a hospital's reported community benefits don't cover its potential property tax liability (the tax it would owe if not exempt), it must pay a fee equal to the difference. The fee funds a special account that provides annual funding to critical access hospitals based on bed count. This directly affects nonprofit hospitals that currently qualify for property tax exemptions but may not meet the new community benefit threshold.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates mandatory fee on hospitals to fund critical access hospitals via special account, directly allocating revenue to essential healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds critical access hospitals via fees from nonprofit hospitals, increasing healthcare funding for rural providers and improving access to essential services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 27, 2025

LC 451: Revise medicaid laws related to direct primary care

This bill (LC 451) would revise Montana Medicaid laws to allow coverage for direct primary care contracts. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees who choose direct primary care - where patients pay a flat fee directly to a doctor instead of traditional insurance. The key provision adds "direct primary care contracts" as a covered service under Medicaid, prohibits the Department from requiring enrollees to participate in case management if they have such a contract, and defines the term. This change would expand access to an alternative primary care model for Montana Medicaid beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds direct primary care as Medicaid-covered service, expanding access options for enrollees without restricting benefits or coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medical Licensing Primary Care

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 30, 2025

LC 2363: Revise insurance laws relating to continuous glucose monitors and supplies

This bill requires most individual health insurance policies in Montana to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and their supplies for people diagnosed with type I or type II diabetes, if prescribed by a healthcare provider as medically necessary. Insurers cannot deny coverage based on the stage of diabetes or insulin dependency. The coverage must include standard deductibles and coinsurance but cannot impose special cost limits unique to CGM use. This applies to individual disability, health, and membership plans, excluding Medicare supplements, hospital indemnity, and long-term care policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for CGMs, preventing denials based on diabetes type/stage, expanding access to essential diabetes management tools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Prescription Drugs

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 30, 2025

LC 580: Creating the Montana Bridge to Medical Residency Act

This bill creates a temporary "supervised medical graduate" license for Montana medical school graduates who did not secure a residency position. It allows these individuals to practice under direct supervision of a licensed physician for up to two years (with one renewal), requiring them to have passed parts 1 and 2 of the U.S. medical licensing exam and hold an accredited medical degree. The license permits specific duties delegated by a supervising physician - such as patient care in the same facility, with the physician personally treating the patient and being immediately available - while explicitly prohibiting supervision by medical residents. This license does not grant full medical licensure or allow independent practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates supervised license for medical graduates without residencies, expanding healthcare workforce access and improving patient care in underserved areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Apr 10, 2025

LC 632: Interim study of the prescription drug supply chain

This joint resolution requests an interim study of Montana's prescription drug supply chain, focusing on pharmacy sustainability, affordability, and patient access. It directs the Legislative Council to examine stakeholders (pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, manufacturers, health plans), factors affecting pharmacy closures, and strategies to reduce costs - especially in rural areas - using only public or voluntarily shared data. The study must assess other states' approaches to drug affordability and develop policy recommendations that improve patient access, address costs, and support pharmacy sustainability. The final report is required by September 2026 for the 70th Legislature. This is a procedural resolution establishing a study, not a policy change.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates study to improve prescription drug affordability and rural patient access, addressing key healthcare access issues through stakeholder analysis and cost-reduction strategies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Apr 17, 2025

LC 2098: Interim study of youth and family behavioral health prevention

This bill (LC 2098) is a joint resolution requesting an interim study of Montana's youth and family behavioral health prevention programs. It directs a temporary committee to examine current funding (federal, state, local, private), system coordination, workforce training, and gaps in services for youth under 18. The study will assess how prevention programs help divert youth from crises like substance use treatment, ER visits, or involvement with justice systems. The committee must collaborate with agencies, tribal governments, schools, and nonprofits to map existing programs, funding streams, and evidence-based practices before reporting findings to the 70th Legislature.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill studies prevention programs to divert youth from justice systems, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing system involvement through early intervention.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill initiates study to assess youth behavioral health prevention programs, aiming to strengthen mental health services through better funding assessment and system coordination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 304: Revising unfair trade practices and consumer protections in health care contracts

This bill bans specific restrictive clauses in healthcare contracts between insurers and providers, such as "gag clauses" that hide pricing information and "anti-steering clauses" that prevent insurers from directing patients to better options. It directly affects healthcare providers (hospitals, clinics, and insurers) by prohibiting terms that limit provider flexibility or patient choice. Key provisions include banning "all-or-nothing" clauses requiring full network inclusion and "most-favored-nations" clauses that prevent providers from offering lower prices elsewhere. Enforcement is assigned to Montana’s Department of Justice and Insurance Commissioner. The bill aims to increase transparency and competition in healthcare pricing and service access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans gag/anti-steering clauses in healthcare contracts, enhancing patient choice and transparency - directly protects consumer rights in healthcare services.90% confidence

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died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 4123: Funding Alzheimer's and dementia small group home care

LC 4123, titled "Funding Alzheimer's and dementia small group home care," aimed to establish funding mechanisms for small group home care services for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. However, the specific details regarding its provisions, such as how the funding would be allocated or who would be eligible, are not available in the provided context. The bill draft ultimately died in the legislative process.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly allocates funding for Alzheimer's/dementia care services, directly advancing healthcare access for vulnerable populations through dedicated appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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