HB 1471 requires dental benefit plans in North Dakota to offer payment methods other than credit cards to dentists, preventing plans from requiring credit card payments only. It mandates that plans notify dentists about any fees for specific payment methods, explain available options, and provide clear instructions for selecting fee-free alternatives. The bill also prohibits charging transmission fees for electronic payments unless the dentist consents, and restricts plans from sharing credit card company profits to cover claim payments. This directly affects dental benefit plans, their vendors, and health maintenance organizations when paying dentists in North Dakota.
HB 1039 amends a North Dakota law to clarify which medical professionals can join the state's Physician Health Program. It specifically updates the definition of "licensee" eligible for participation in this program, ensuring only certain licensed healthcare providers qualify. The change directly affects doctors and other medical license holders seeking support for health issues without jeopardizing their licenses. The bill was enacted into law after passing through the state legislature and receiving the governor's signature in March 2025.
HB 1030 renames "drug court" programs to "treatment court" across multiple North Dakota statutes, focusing on rehabilitation rather than punitive measures. It directly affects courts, judges, and individuals participating in these specialized programs by updating terminology in legal codes. The bill does not create new programs or funding but adjusts existing court procedures to align with the treatment-focused approach. The legislation was signed into law by the Governor on March 14, 2025, and is now effective.
HB 1108 amends North Dakota law to update rules for interstate contracts allowing mental health and substance use disorder treatment across state lines. It directly affects patients needing care outside North Dakota and healthcare providers coordinating treatment with other states. The bill establishes clearer requirements for these contracts, ensuring proper legal agreements between states to facilitate seamless patient care. The emergency declaration reflects the urgency of addressing gaps in cross-state treatment access for vulnerable populations.
HB 1339 amends North Dakota law to clarify which licensed ambulance services are exempt from forming rural ambulance service districts. It specifically exempts county-owned, city-owned, jointly operated (with cities/counties), tribal/federal government-owned, hospital-owned, and existing rural ambulance service districts from these requirements. The bill directly affects local ambulance providers by removing a regulatory burden for these specific service types. This is a procedural change to existing code, not a new policy requiring public funding or service expansion.
HB 1519 requires North Dakota's Department of Health to compile and maintain individual death and vaccination records from the state's immunization and death registration systems. It mandates tracking specific details like vaccine type, date of vaccination, sex, race, and death dates within 720 days post-vaccination. The department must publish quarterly public reports on its website showing death rates for each vaccine type administered to over 20,000 people in the previous quarter, broken down by demographic groups and time intervals after vaccination. This bill directly affects the state health department's data management and public reporting processes.
HB 1337 would provide $10 million in state funds to counties for mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for people in jail. The bill requires counties receiving grants to report annually on how funds were used and outcomes, and the health department to submit a summary report to lawmakers by 2026. This funding would cover the 2025-2027 biennium and aim to expand access to mental health care for incarcerated individuals.
HB 1433 would create North Dakota's dementia response program within the Department of Health, administered by a dedicated state dementia coordinator. The program requires developing and updating an Alzheimer's/dementia state plan every three years through a work group including people living with dementia, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and advocacy organizations. It also mandates collecting dementia-related data via existing state systems and launching a statewide public awareness campaign to reduce stigma and promote early detection. The bill allocates $250,000 for the program and coordinator position over the 2025-2027 biennium.
