Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 435: Generally revise laws related to mentally ill individuals

SB 435 revises laws related to individuals experiencing mental illness by establishing a new 72-hour mental health hold. This provision allows a mental health professional to place an individual in a facility for up to 72 hours if, due to a mental disorder, they cannot meet basic needs, cause injury, or pose an imminent threat to themselves or others. During this hold, the individual receives an evaluation, and options upon release include further voluntary care or a petition for commitment. Additionally, the bill allows for the waiver of an individual's physical presence at mental health hearings under specific conditions, such as if their presence would seriously adversely affect their mental health condition.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes 72-hour mental health hold for evaluation and voluntary care options, advancing access to mental health services per bill's focus on crisis intervention for mentally ill individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 524: Revise laws relating to category D assisted living facilities

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies safety protocols for vulnerable residents in assisted living facilities, protecting patient rights and improving care standards under healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Public Health

signed · Montana · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 560: Provide for a hospital community benefit fee

SB 560 requires nonprofit hospitals to report their annual charity care and community benefit spending to the state. The bill mandates that a nonprofit hospital's total community benefit must exceed the amount of property taxes it would have paid if it were not tax-exempt. If a hospital's reported community benefit does not meet this threshold, a fee equal to the difference will be assessed. These collected fees are then deposited into a new Critical Access Health Care Special Revenue Account, which provides funding to critical access hospitals not affiliated with other hospitals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates fees from tax-exempt hospitals to fund critical health care access, creating new state revenue for public services while ensuring proportional community benefit.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates hospital community benefits funding via fees, directing collected funds to Critical Access Health Care Special Revenue Account, directly increasing healthcare program funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 503: Allow use of expired opioid antagonists

SB 503 allows for the use of expired opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, to treat opioid-related drug overdoses. This bill grants partial immunity from liability to school employees, eligible recipients, medical practitioners, and pharmacists who administer or distribute these expired medications in good faith. It amends existing law to explicitly permit schools to stock and use expired opioid antagonists and extends immunity to school personnel, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. The bill's purpose is to broaden access to life-saving opioid antagonist medication by permitting the use of expired doses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows expired naloxone use for overdose treatment, expands emergency access to life-saving care, and grants liability protection to providers - directly improving healthcare access for opioid emergencies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 526: Establish the community health aide provider education grant program

SB 526 establishes a grant program to fund tribal colleges in Montana developing community health aide and dental health aide training programs. The program provides up to $3 million per institution, including a $1 million startup grant and $500,000 annually for four years, to expand or create education programs qualifying graduates for federal certification. Tribal colleges receiving grants must report annually on program outcomes, including graduates, provider certifications, patient access metrics, and cost-effectiveness. The bill directly affects tribal colleges and aims to address healthcare disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native communities by increasing local provider capacity. It allocates $1.5 million from the general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium to support this initiative.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3M+ in state funds to tribal colleges for health aide programs, increasing public service funding per grant program details.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds tribal college vocational programs for health aides with $3M grants, expanding certified training access and workforce development in higher education.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds tribal college training programs for community health aides, increasing certified providers and improving patient access in underserved communities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags Tribal Nations

Track

vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 880: Establish a stabilization fund for medicaid

HB 880 establishes the Medicaid Stabilization Reserve Account, a state special revenue fund designed to help maintain Medicaid benefits during state revenue shortfalls. The account would be primarily funded by transferring any unused state general fund appropriations for Medicaid at the end of a fiscal year. Funds from this account could only be appropriated by the legislature for state Medicaid matching funds after the budget director certifies a projected general fund deficit. This mechanism aims to mitigate expenditure reductions in the Medicaid program, directly affecting the stability of services for beneficiaries. The bill also includes an initial appropriation of $50,000 for state Medicaid matching funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Medicaid Stabilization Reserve Account using unused general fund appropriations to maintain benefits during revenue shortfalls, protecting essential program funding through fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Medicaid Stabilization Reserve to maintain benefits during revenue shortfalls, preventing cuts to healthcare coverage and ensuring continued funding for Medicaid services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending Revenue State Budget Medicaid

Track

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 521: Directing DPHHS and OPI to develop a plan to expand mental health education to all schools in the state

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands mental health education curriculum in all schools, requiring funding strategies and student support programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates expansion of mental health education in schools, directly supporting mental health services through curriculum development and funding strategies as required by the legislation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health Mental Health Public Health

Track

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 523: Revise reimbursement for medicaid services

SB 523, introduced by Senator C. Pope, proposed requiring Medicaid contracts with non-physician providers (like clinics or therapists) to include annual cost-of-living adjustments tied to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' medical care CPI. This would have mandated that reimbursement rates for these providers increase each year by the same percentage as the medical care inflation rate, rather than relying on fixed formulas. The bill would have applied specifically to non-physician Medicaid service providers, aiming to keep their payments aligned with inflation. However, the bill "died in process" on May 23, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires annual Medicaid reimbursement increases tied to medical inflation, preventing real-term payment cuts for non-physician providers and maintaining access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 732: Establish prompt cost report reimbursement act

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates timely Medicaid reimbursements under appropriations process, promoting fiscal responsibility in state budget execution for healthcare funding.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates timely Medicaid reimbursements to critical access hospitals, preventing financial strain and ensuring continued healthcare service provision.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Medicare Public Health