Healthcare (Mental Health)

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 377: Generally revise access by parent to child patient health care information

HB 377 revises Montana law to ensure parents generally have access to their minor child's health care records. It requires health providers to give parents access to a child's health information within 3 days of a request (or provide contact details for the records' location), with exceptions for court-limited parental rights, child abuse investigations, or government guardianship. The bill also clarifies that minors who can consent to certain care (like mental health services) have exclusive control over information related to that specific care, removing a minor's ability to enforce privacy violations by non-HIPAA-covered providers. This primarily affects parents, minors seeking care without parental consent, and health care providers managing minors' records.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill clarifies parental access to minor's health records while protecting minors' privacy in mental health services, supporting patient rights in healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 95: Provide funding for suicide prevention

Senate Bill 95 allocates $300,000 to the Department of Public Health and Human Services for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025. This funding is dedicated to suicide prevention efforts specifically for service members, veterans, and their families. The bill outlines several key uses for the money, including implementing prevention strategies and establishing screening standards for suicide risk. It also aims to improve care transitions and increase lethal means safety through initiatives such as a statewide safe storage campaign and training events. The act is effective July 1, 2025, and terminates on June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $300,000 for suicide prevention mental health services targeting veterans, directly advancing mental healthcare access and prevention programs.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExplicitly funds suicide prevention for veterans with $300k allocation, directly addressing mental healthcare needs as stated in bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health Veteran Mental Health

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 669: Revise laws related to educating children receiving in-state inpatient treatment of serious emotional disturbances

HB 669 revises laws concerning educational programs for children receiving in-state inpatient treatment for serious emotional disturbances, directly affecting these children, their school districts, and qualifying treatment facilities. The bill authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to contract with facilities to deliver these educational programs, establishing a daily rate for services based on actual costs. Funding responsibility is shared, with the SPI paying the facility the daily rate minus a contribution from the child's school district of residence. It also clarifies the SPI's rulemaking authority for tuition calculations and outlines alternative methods for providing education if a facility fails to offer appropriate programs or contract with the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes SPI to contract for educational programs for inpatient treatment children, establishing funding mechanisms to ensure access to education for this vulnerable group.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes funding for educational programs tied to mental health treatment for children with serious emotional disturbances, ensuring access to care during inpatient treatment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Mental Health

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 884: Establish a behavioral health trust fund

HB 884 sought to establish the Montana Behavioral Health Trust Fund and an oversight board to support behavioral health services statewide. It would have created a permanent endowment, with only the interest generated from it being transferred quarterly into a special revenue account. This account would fund grants for various eligible purposes, including mental health programs in public schools, expanding crisis care services, and providing support for individuals experiencing homelessness. A newly formed seven-member board would have been responsible for administering the fund, determining grant priorities, and monitoring the effectiveness of funded services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates trust fund using interest to fund mental health programs via state finance appropriations, aligning with funding essential services under budget management.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates behavioral health trust fund to fund mental health programs, school services, and crisis care via dedicated interest revenue, directly advancing healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 620: Revise laws prohibiting contracts that restrict practice to include physicians of all specialties

House Bill 620 revises state law concerning contracts that restrict a healthcare provider's ability to practice after leaving an employer or partnership. It expands existing protections, previously applicable to specific behavioral health professionals, to now include licensed physicians of all specialties. The bill amends Section 28-2-724, MCA, ensuring that contracts cannot prevent these medical professionals from practicing, providing services, or establishing patient relationships in any geographic area after their professional relationship ends.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands protections for physicians to practice freely after employment changes, preventing restrictive contracts that could limit patient access to care and strengthen healthcare provider mobility.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands employment protections for physicians by prohibiting restrictive practice contracts, advancing workers' right to practice freely post-employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 574: Authorizing implementation of the certified community behavioral health clinic model

HB 574 authorizes the Department of Public Health and Human Services to establish a program for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) by October 1, 2026. These clinics will provide comprehensive behavioral health services, including targeted case management, peer support, and outreach to emergency rooms and law enforcement. The bill also outlines specific requirements for CCBHCs, such as providing urgent care within one business day, offering a sliding fee scale, and not refusing services due to inability to pay. Additionally, it directs the department to establish reimbursement rates, monitor clinic performance, and develop an incentive program for clinics that achieve exceptional outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes CCBHCs to expand mental health services with urgent care access, sliding fees, and outreach - directly advancing behavioral health care access and coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Primary Care Public Health

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 469: Generally revise laws related to service area authorities

SB 469 would revise Montana's mental health service structure by updating rules for local "service area authorities" that manage community mental health programs. It requires the state Department of Mental Health to provide each service area authority with an annual contract covering administrative costs, crisis services, and community events, while also supporting at least three such authorities. The bill mandates that service area boards be led by majority consumer/family members, establishes new reporting requirements, and removes unfunded mandates requiring local governments to cover costs without state funding. This directly affects local mental health providers, county governments, and communities receiving mental health services across Montana.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates state funding for mental health service areas via annual contracts covering crisis services and community events, strengthening mental health infrastructure and requiring consumer-led boards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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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

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

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 237: Prohibit placement of sentenced defendants in the state forensic mental health facility

HB 237 would prohibit the placement of certain sentenced defendants in the state forensic mental health facility at Galen. The bill amends existing law to specify that individuals found to have a mental disease, disorder, or developmental disability at the time of their offense, and who are committed for treatment, cannot be placed at the Galen facility. Instead, these defendants could be placed in other appropriate correctional, mental health, residential, or developmental disabilities facilities for their custody, care, and treatment. The director of the department would retain the authority to transfer individuals between these alternative facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRedirects mentally ill defendants from forensic facility to appropriate care, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates placement in mental health facilities for eligible defendants, ensuring appropriate care under Health Care Services subject.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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