Healthcare (Children's Health)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 4, 2025

LC 465: Generally revise laws regarding family and group day-care homes

This bill updates Montana's regulations for family and group day-care homes, establishing clearer standards for providers caring for up to 15 children. It requires providers to maintain liability insurance, sign contracts with parents, conduct annual safety and sanitation inspections, and keep detailed records of vaccinations, medications, and child health information. The legislation also sets specific rules for discipline, prohibiting corporal punishment and negative methods, while mandating background checks and limiting the department's ability to create rules stricter than what the law already requires.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates safety inspections, vaccination records, and health information tracking for child care providers, improving child health protection and access to care standards.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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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 Jan 13, 2025

LC 1382: Provide for continuous healthy Montana kids plan eligibility for children under 6

This bill directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services to seek approval for allowing children under six years old to remain enrolled in the Healthy Montana Kids Plan even if their family's income changes, preventing them from losing coverage due to financial fluctuations. The legislation requires the department to submit waiver requests to federal authorities by July 1, 2025, and to implement continuous eligibility within six months of approval if granted. Key provisions include maintaining coverage through the end of the month a child turns six, reducing administrative costs by eliminating repeated eligibility checks, and improving access to preventive care and early intervention services for young children. The bill also mandates that the department report to the legislature on the outcomes of these changes, including whether coverage gaps decrease and administrative expenses are reduced.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands health coverage for children under six by allowing continuous enrollment despite income changes, protecting access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Primary Care

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 1903: Eliminate the tobacco prevention advisory board

This bill eliminates the Tobacco Prevention Advisory Board in Montana by repealing the section of state law that established it. It modifies existing tobacco settlement funding rules to remove the requirement that money from the tobacco prevention account be used to support the advisory board. The changes affect how state funds from tobacco settlement proceeds are allocated, specifically allowing those funds to be used only for tobacco disease prevention programs and Children's Health Insurance Program matching without any portion going to the advisory board. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the legislature.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill defunds the Tobacco Prevention Advisory Board by eliminating it and restricting how tobacco settlement funds can be used, limiting government oversight and program allocation.75% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill eliminates Tobacco Prevention Advisory Board and restricts tobacco settlement funding use, limiting public health initiatives and disease prevention programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 3079: Provide for parental right to access child's health care information

This bill establishes parental rights to access their children's health care information in Montana, requiring medical providers to share records with parents unless specific exceptions apply. The law mandates that hospitals obtain parental consent before performing surgery on minors and requires providers to supply health information to parents within 10 days of a request, unless the parent is under investigation for abuse or neglect or a court has limited their decision-making authority. Key provisions allow parents to consent to medical procedures, including telemedicine visits, with identity verification requirements, while maintaining emergency exceptions for situations involving imminent harm to the child. The bill also clarifies that minors who can legally consent to their own care without parental permission retain exclusive rights to access information related to those specific treatments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens parental access to children's healthcare information and requires provider cooperation, enhancing family involvement in minor healthcare decisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Telehealth

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 1342: Revise funding for medicaid and health and support services to children and to adults who are aged, blind, and disabled

This bill revises how Montana allocates tobacco settlement proceeds and special state revenue funds to support Medicaid and health services for children, adults who are aged, blind, or disabled. It designates 32% of tobacco settlement money for statewide tobacco prevention programs aimed at keeping children from starting and helping adults quit, while using 17% to match federal funds for programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program and home and community-based services for elderly or disabled residents. The legislation also establishes a special revenue account to cover costs associated with expanded health insurance enrollment and allows the state to adjust eligibility requirements for children's health insurance if funding is insufficient. These changes directly affect state funding streams for public health initiatives and Medicaid-related services without altering existing benefit structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates tobacco settlement proceeds to fund Medicaid and health services for vulnerable populations, increasing state health care funding.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates tobacco settlement funds to expand Medicaid, CHIP, and health services for vulnerable populations, directly increasing healthcare funding and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Children's Health Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 10, 2024

LC 1626: Revise tobacco settlement allocations

This bill revises how Montana allocates tobacco settlement funds, changing the percentages distributed between two state accounts. Under the new rules, 32% of tobacco settlement proceeds will fund statewide tobacco disease prevention programs aimed at preventing children from using tobacco and helping adults quit, while 17% will be used to match federal funds for the Children's Health Insurance Program. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services will manage the prevention programs and must follow established national standards when implementing them. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and any unspent funds from these accounts must be transferred to the state trust fund within two years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reallocates tobacco settlement funds to strengthen public health programs and CHIPS matching, increasing funding for essential state services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates tobacco settlement funds to tobacco disease prevention programs and matches federal funds for Children's Health Insurance Program, directly supporting healthcare access and public health initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

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signed · Montana · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 495: Eliminate the tobacco prevention advisory board

Senate Bill 495 eliminates the Tobacco Prevention Advisory Board. The bill repeals the specific section of law that established this board. It also amends existing statute to remove the board from the list of entities funded by state special revenue accounts, which are primarily used for tobacco disease prevention programs and the Children's Health Insurance Program. The direct effect is the dissolution of the advisory board, which previously provided guidance for these programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds tobacco prevention and CHIP programs by removing advisory board from state special revenue accounts, directly eliminating funding streams.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareDissolves tobacco prevention advisory board, removing it from state funding lists for tobacco disease prevention programs, directly defunding public health initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 494: Revise tobacco settlement allocations

HB 494 proposes to revise how Montana allocates its yearly tobacco settlement proceeds, effective July 1, 2025. This bill would change the distribution percentages between two state special revenue accounts. Currently, 32% of the proceeds fund statewide tobacco disease prevention programs, and 17% goes to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). HB 494 would reverse these allocations, directing 17% to tobacco prevention and 32% to CHIP to secure federal matching funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReallocates tobacco settlement funds to increase CHIP funding via federal matching, strengthening public health program financing within state budget.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases CHIP funding from 17% to 32% to expand children's health insurance coverage, securing federal matching funds for public health program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 747: Authorize certain day-care centers to adopt policy regarding certain immunization exemptions

HB 747 permits day-care centers that care for children under one year of age or those at higher risk of severe illness from communicable diseases to adopt a policy regarding whether they accept children with certain immunization exemptions. The bill requires these day-care centers to notify parents or guardians if such a policy is adopted. This allows specific day-care centers to determine their own stance on accepting children with exemptions from required immunizations, impacting both the centers and families seeking childcare.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows day-care centers to require full immunizations for high-risk children, strengthening public health measures to protect vulnerable minors.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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