Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 2894: Generally revise laws related to cannabis labeling and education

This bill updates Montana's cannabis laws to strengthen labeling requirements and expand the state department's rulemaking authority. It requires all marijuana products to include specific warning labels about health risks, child safety, and driving restrictions, with high-THC products needing additional bold warnings. The legislation also gives the department broader power to set rules on product testing, packaging standards, advertising limits, and environmental sustainability measures. Additionally, it mandates warning posters at all points of sale and directs the department to include addiction resources on these materials.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens cannabis labeling requirements and health risk warnings, protecting consumers and public health through improved safety standards and education.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 14, 2025

LC 2420: Revise labor laws relating to the medical assistance program

This bill revises Montana's medical assistance program for licensed professionals to provide support for those struggling with substance abuse, mental illness, or chronic physical illness. It requires licensing boards to establish assistance programs that help affected licensees access treatment and monitor their rehabilitation efforts, while prioritizing in-state treatment options when available. The legislation also adjusts renewal fees to fund these programs and adds specific provisions for disciplining licensees who repeatedly return to substance use after entering the assistance program. Additionally, the bill strengthens confidentiality protections for program records and clarifies the duties of state licensing boards regarding standards, examinations, and program expansions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes assistance programs for medical professionals with substance abuse or mental illness, improving access to treatment and rehabilitation services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 3716: Allow use of expired opioid antagonists

This bill allows schools, individuals, and medical professionals in Montana to use expired opioid overdose reversal medication like naloxone without legal liability. It authorizes schools to stock and administer expired medication to students or others during an overdose emergency, while also permitting individuals who have received prescriptions to possess, store, and use expired doses. The law provides immunity from civil and criminal penalties for schools, employees, eligible recipients, and medical practitioners who act in good faith, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Schools must follow specific protocols for training, storage, and parental notification, and the bill amends existing state statutes to clarify these protections and procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to life-saving overdose reversal medication by removing legal barriers for schools and individuals, directly improving patient safety and healthcare emergency response.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 1893: Update licensing requirements for facilities licensed by the department of public health and human services

This bill updates licensing requirements for facilities regulated by Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services, including community homes for people with severe or developmental disabilities. It adds a specific definition for "substance use disorder treatment facility" and amends multiple state codes to clarify what constitutes a health care facility and provider. The legislation also revises definitions related to managed care plans, emergency medical conditions, and health benefit plans to ensure consistency across health-related statutes. These changes aim to modernize the legal framework governing health care facilities without altering existing operational requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill updates licensing requirements and clarifies definitions for healthcare facilities, strengthening regulatory frameworks for public health services and patient protections.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 6, 2025

LC 2083: Revise laws related to state purchase of opioid antagonists

This bill prohibits Montana state agencies from using state or federal funds to purchase opioid overdose reversal drugs from companies that have previously settled with the state over opioid-related misconduct. The law applies to all purchases made after June 30, 2025, with exceptions for existing contracts signed before July 1, 2025, which must be completed but cannot be renewed. Companies that agreed to supply these medications as part of a settlement before September 1, 2024, must continue providing them until their contractual obligations are fulfilled. The measure takes effect immediately upon passage and approval, directing state procurement officials to avoid purchasing from specified entities going forward.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts state agencies from purchasing opioid overdose reversal drugs from companies that settled with the state, limiting access to critical healthcare resources for opioid overdose prevention.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 3226: Provide grants for permanent supportive housing facilities

This bill creates a grant program to help nonprofit organizations build or improve permanent supportive housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Montana Department of Commerce would manage the program and distribute up to $75 million in grants for acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating housing that includes long-term leases and on-site support services like mental health care, addiction recovery, and employment assistance. Funding comes from a new state account established by transferring $50 million from the general fund and $25 million from the behavioral health system for future generations fund, with grants awarded based on submitted proposals and adherence to specific project conditions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $75M in state grants for permanent supportive housing, directly increasing funding for essential public services and social programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides $75M grants for housing with integrated mental health, addiction recovery, and employment services, directly supporting healthcare access for vulnerable populations.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides $75M in grants for permanent supportive housing facilities, directly funding affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Homelessness

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 4317: Generally revise laws relating to pharmacies

This bill requires Montana Medicaid and private health insurance plans to treat nonopioid pain medications equally with opioid medications, preventing insurers from placing nonopioid drugs on less favorable coverage tiers or subjecting them to stricter approval requirements. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries, commercial insurance policyholders, and healthcare providers by mandating that nonopioid drugs approved for pain management receive the same formulary placement and utilization management standards as opioid drugs. The legislation also allows prescribing doctors to request exceptions if they determine a nonopioid drug is medically appropriate for a patient, even if the insurance plan has restrictions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to nonopioid pain medications by requiring equal coverage with opioids, preventing restrictive formulary placement and strengthening pain management options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 2295: Revise laws prohibiting contracts that restrict practice to include physicians of all specialties

This bill expands Montana's existing law that prevents healthcare contracts from restricting how providers work after leaving their jobs to include more mental health and behavioral health professionals. Previously, these protections only applied to physicians, but the new law now covers psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, addiction counselors, marriage and family therapists, and behavioral health peer support specialists. The changes prohibit employers from stopping these covered providers from treating their current patients or working in any area after their employment ends, except when a practice is being sold or purchased. This update aims to ensure broader protections against restrictive non-compete agreements across the behavioral health sector.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands protections for mental health and behavioral health professionals, preventing restrictive contracts and improving access to care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 10, 2025

LC 2097: Eliminate termination of chemical dependency voucher program

This bill eliminates the termination of Montana's chemical dependency treatment voucher program by repealing a 2023 law that ended the program. It directly affects individuals who rely on state-funded vouchers to access substance abuse treatment services. The legislation restores the voucher system immediately upon passage and approval, allowing continued funding for eligible participants. By removing the previous restriction, the bill ensures the program remains available for those seeking chemical dependency treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill restores funding for substance abuse treatment vouchers, protecting access to healthcare services for eligible individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 6, 2025

LC 821: Implementing cost reporting for certain Medicaid service provider types

This bill establishes a standardized cost reporting system for specific Medicaid service providers in Montana, including those offering mental health, substance use disorder, developmental disabilities, and senior long-term care services. The Department of Public Health and Human Services will create a uniform reporting format that providers must use to submit actual expenditure and revenue data from their most recent fiscal year, with exemptions determined by the department and data collection occurring at least every four years. The department will analyze this data alongside claims information and national statistics to produce a report on Medicaid rate adequacy, which will inform future budget requests to adjust reimbursement rates as needed. This process requires legislative funding and includes provisions for data protection, provider consultation during format development, and potential contracting with external experts to assist with reporting.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes standardized cost reporting for Medicaid providers including mental health and long-term care, improving transparency and accountability in healthcare service delivery.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Public Health Substance Abuse

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