Healthcare

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 4187: Revise preauthorization laws relating to healthcare

This bill directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services to stop requiring prior authorization for certain FDA-approved antipsychotic drugs used to treat conditions listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Under the new rules, Medicaid providers and patients will no longer need to obtain approval before receiving these specific medications, allowing for faster access to treatment. The changes apply to all claims submitted for services provided on or after the effective date, which is set for 30 days after the bill is passed.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes prior authorization barriers for antipsychotic medications, improving patient access to mental health treatment and strengthening healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 29, 2025

LC 1792: Provide for dismissal of certain criminal charges against health care provider

This bill allows health care providers in Montana to request dismissal of criminal charges if the state cannot prove the provider's actions were intentional and outside accepted medical standards. Under the new law, courts must hold a hearing where the state must demonstrate by a preponderance of evidence that the conduct was knowingly committed and not merely negligent. If the state fails to meet this burden, the charges must be dismissed. The legislation aims to protect medical professionals from criminal liability when they follow current medical evidence and practice within accepted standards of care.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects healthcare providers from unjust criminal charges by requiring higher burden of proof, promoting fairness in criminal justice system85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare providers from criminal charges unless intentional misconduct is proven, supporting medical professionals and healthcare services.85% confidence

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 4, 2025

LC 1890: Adopt the dietitian licensure compact

This bill would allow Montana to join the Dietitian Licensure Compact, enabling licensed dietitians to practice across state lines with a single license. Under the compact, qualified dietitians would receive a "compact privilege" that grants them the same rights as a local license in other member states, eliminating the need to obtain separate licenses in each state they work in. The legislation establishes a commission to oversee the compact, requires criminal background checks for licensure, and ensures states can share information about disciplinary actions and investigations. It also includes special provisions to support active military members and their spouses who relocate frequently.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables dietitians to practice across state lines, improving patient access to nutrition services and strengthening healthcare workforce mobility.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 3474: Revise medical resident licensure laws

This bill updates Montana's medical licensure laws to clarify definitions for medical residents, internships, and residency programs while removing unlicensed trainees from licensing exemptions. The legislation establishes that residents must hold degrees from accredited medical schools and be enrolled in programs approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association. It also revises how telemedicine and emergency care are defined, specifying that certain remote communication methods do not constitute practicing medicine without a license. These changes primarily affect medical training programs and the state medical board, ensuring clearer standards for who qualifies as a licensed resident in Montana.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens patient safety by clarifying resident licensure requirements and removing unlicensed trainees from exemptions, improving healthcare quality standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 15, 2025

LC 2071: Adopt the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license compact

This bill adopts the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Compact into Montana law, allowing APRNs to obtain a single multistate license that permits practice across all participating states. The legislation establishes a coordinated system for sharing licensure and disciplinary information between states to improve public safety and reduce the burden of obtaining separate licenses in each state. Key provisions include defining uniform education and examination requirements, creating a mechanism for states to take action against APRNs who practice outside their authorized scope, and setting up a nonprofit organization to manage a shared database of APRN licensure data. The bill directly affects nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse midwives who wish to practice in multiple states under one license.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands healthcare access by enabling APRNs to practice across multiple states, improving patient care availability and reducing licensing burdens.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track