Healthcare

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 776: Revise professions and occupations laws regarding dispensing of drugs

This bill amends Montana's professions and occupations laws to clarify the rules for medical practitioners dispensing drugs to their own patients. It requires practitioners who dispense medications to register with the state board of pharmacy and pay an associated fee, while allowing non-practitioner staff to deliver prepared and sealed medications to patients after verifying their identity. The law maintains that practitioners can only dispense drugs they are authorized to prescribe, with specific exceptions for emergencies, rural areas without pharmacies, and certain public health settings like family planning clinics and urban Indian clinics.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill clarifies and regulates drug dispensing by medical practitioners, improving patient access to medications while maintaining safety standards through registration requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 12, 2025

LC 1835: Creating family and medical leave act

This bill establishes Montana's Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act, creating a state-run insurance fund that provides paid leave for eligible employees and self-employed individuals to care for family members with health conditions, bond with new children, or address military family needs. The program requires contributions from covered employers and employees, with benefits contingent on sufficient fund solvency and determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. Eligible workers must have earned qualifying wages and paid contributions into the fund, while the law also protects job rights and health information privacy for those using benefits. The legislation amends existing Montana code sections and includes provisions for public outreach and notifications about the new program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes paid family and medical leave to care for family members with health conditions, improving access to healthcare support and protecting workers' health needs.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes paid family and medical leave insurance, expanding worker benefits and protecting employee rights in Montana.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill includes specific provision for military family needs, providing paid leave for veterans' family care requirements75% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Military Families

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 30, 2025

LC 3068: Generally revise access by parent to child patient health care information

This bill updates Montana law to clarify how parents can access their children's health care information, primarily affecting hospitals, health care providers, and families. It requires providers to share a child's medical records with parents within three days of a request, unless a court has restricted parental decision-making rights or there are allegations of child abuse or neglect against the parent. The legislation also removes the exclusive right of a child who can consent to their own care to enforce privacy violations by providers not covered under federal HIPAA rules, while maintaining emergency exceptions for situations where a parent cannot be reached and immediate medical action is needed.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to medical records and clarifies parental rights, strengthening healthcare transparency and family involvement in minor's care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 1564: Revise workers' compensation law to cover PTSD for first responders and others

This bill expands Montana's workers' compensation system to cover posttraumatic stress disorder for first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, dispatchers, and prison employees. Under the new provisions, these workers can file claims if a qualified diagnosis confirms their PTSD resulted from an emergency event occurring during their official duties, excluding stress caused by personnel actions like disciplinary measures or job changes. The legislation amends existing state statutes to create an exception to Montana's general rule against compensating mental-mental claims, specifically recognizing the unique risks faced by first responders. Coverage applies to both professional and volunteer responders who act in an official capacity during emergency responses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill supports first responders including law enforcement by providing PTSD coverage, enhancing support for criminal justice workers.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands workers' compensation to cover PTSD for first responders, strengthening mental health coverage and access to care for specific occupational groups.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill expands workers' compensation to cover PTSD for first responders, which includes many veterans who served in similar emergency roles, thereby strengthening benefits for this group.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Mental Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 1984: Generally revise laws related to sexual assault kits

This bill revises Montana laws regarding payment for sexual assault medical forensic examinations by establishing a dedicated state fund to cover costs when local law enforcement agencies cannot pay. The new sexual assault medical forensic examination fund will reimburse medical providers up to $800 per examination for victims of alleged sexual offenses, with excess marijuana tax revenue funding the account. Additionally, the bill modifies how surplus marijuana tax funds are distributed, directing a portion to the new examination fund and clarifying the restorative justice fund's sources and uses. These changes shift financial responsibility from local law enforcement to the state for certain forensic examinations while maintaining oversight through the Department of Justice.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes dedicated state fund using marijuana tax revenue to reimburse medical providers for sexual assault examinations, advancing state budget management and funding essential public services.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes funding for sexual assault forensic exams, improving access to justice and victim support services within criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes dedicated state fund to cover costs of sexual assault medical forensic examinations, increasing access to healthcare services for victims.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Drug Policy Violent Crime

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2096: Provide laws related to healthcare provider burnout

This bill establishes a legal framework for healthcare provider wellness programs in Montana by creating protections for those who participate in or manage programs addressing career fatigue and wellness among healthcare professionals. It grants civil immunity to committee members and consultants working on these wellness programs, prevents mandatory reporting of participants to licensing boards unless there is a genuine concern about competence or patient safety, and ensures that program records remain confidential and protected from discovery in civil cases. The legislation defines "healthcare providers" to include physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and students in related fields, while specifying that wellness programs must be run by statewide associations or tax-exempt organizations primarily representing healthcare providers. Additionally, the bill amends existing reporting laws to maintain the ability to report physicians who are medically incompetent or pose a danger to patients, even within the context of wellness initiatives.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare provider wellness programs and grants civil immunity, directly supporting provider mental health and preventing burnout.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects healthcare workers from burnout through wellness programs and civil immunity, strengthening workplace conditions and worker protections.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 26, 2025

LC 2824: Revise reimbursement for medicaid services

This bill updates how Montana Medicaid reimburses healthcare providers by requiring annual cost-of-living adjustments for all covered services. It mandates that contracts with non-physician providers must include automatic fee increases based on the Consumer Price Index for Medical Care, while physician payments continue under existing inflation adjustment rules. The changes apply to all Medicaid service contracts and take effect on July 1, 2025, ensuring provider fees keep pace with inflation without requiring individual renegotiations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates through annual cost-of-living adjustments, ensuring healthcare providers maintain adequate compensation and supporting healthcare service delivery.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 660: Restoring the right for injured worker to choose their own doctor.

This bill restores the right for injured workers in Montana to choose their own treating physician for workers' compensation claims, allowing them to select a doctor before the insurance company designates one. The law requires insurers to honor a worker's choice of doctor if that doctor agrees to follow specific responsibilities like coordinating care and providing timely medical determinations. Workers may also be referred to managed care organizations or preferred provider networks by their insurer, but the bill clarifies that simply posting information about these networks in the workplace does not count as official written notice to the worker. The legislation also adjusts reimbursement rates for doctors, paying 110% of the standard fee schedule for insurer-designated physicians and 90% for providers referred by the treating physician, while maintaining 100% payment for care received before a physician is officially designated.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights by allowing injured workers to choose their own treating physician, improving access to preferred healthcare providers.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill restores injured workers' right to choose their own doctor, protecting worker autonomy and expanding benefits under workers' compensation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 12, 2025

LC 1892: Revise date for annual supplemental medicaid payment to hospitals

This bill changes the deadline for Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services to distribute annual supplemental Medicaid payments to hospitals from May 5 to May 15 each year. The amendment directly affects hospitals that receive Medicaid funding and the state agency responsible for managing those payments. By updating the statutory language in Section 53-6-149 of the Montana Code Annotated, the legislation ensures that increased Medicaid reimbursements are provided by the later date. The change takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill extends deadline for Medicaid payments to hospitals, ensuring timely funding for healthcare providers and supporting healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 1973: Repeal termination date on reporting and disclosure of violence against health care employees

This bill removes the expiration date on Montana's requirement for reporting and disclosing violence against healthcare employees. It directly affects healthcare facilities and staff who must document incidents of violence in the workplace. The key provision repeals Section 4 of Chapter 516 from the 2023 laws, which previously set a sunset date for these reporting rules. As a result, the mandate for tracking and disclosing violence against healthcare workers continues indefinitely without a set end date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare workers by making violence reporting permanent, enhancing workplace safety and staff well-being.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens workplace safety protections by making violence reporting against healthcare workers permanent, directly supporting worker safety standards.90% confidence

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