Healthcare

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 399: Revise prior authorization laws

HB 399 revises prior authorization laws for health insurance issuers, aiming to simplify access to certain prescription drugs for covered individuals. The bill prohibits prior authorization for oral and inhaled generic prescription drugs, inhaled medications for asthma or chronic lung diseases, and insulin for diabetes patients. It also restricts prior authorization for generic drugs used consistently for six months and for dosage adjustments within approved limits. If an insurer makes an adverse determination for a prescription drug, the decision must be made by a specialist physician, and the insurer must provide a list of covered therapeutic alternatives.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prohibits prior authorization for essential medications (insulin, asthma drugs, generics), directly improving patient access to prescribed treatments without unnecessary barriers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 109: Revise workers' compensation definition of treating physician to include physical therapists

SB 109 revises Montana's workers' compensation law by expanding the definition of "treating physician." This bill includes physical therapists within that definition, allowing them to serve as primary treating providers for injured workers. This change directly affects workers seeking care for injuries and physical therapists providing treatment under workers' compensation claims. The bill amends Section 39-71-116, MCA.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands healthcare access by allowing physical therapists as primary treating providers under workers' comp, improving patient access to care without physician referral.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 143: Revise definition of treating physician to include physician assistants without regard to proximity of other providers

HB 143 revises the definition of "treating physician" within the state's Workers' Compensation Act. This bill expands the definition to explicitly include physician assistants (PAs). A key provision is the removal of any requirement for PAs to be in proximity to other medical providers to qualify as a treating physician for these purposes. This change affects how workers' compensation claims are managed and potentially broadens the types of healthcare providers recognized for injured workers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands recognition of physician assistants as treating providers in workers' compensation, removing proximity barriers to improve access to healthcare services for injured workers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation access by including PAs as treating physicians without proximity restrictions, strengthening injured workers' benefit access under Labor & Employment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 198: Revise laws that prohibit contracts that restrict practice of health care providers

HB 198 revises laws that prohibit contracts restricting the practice of specific healthcare providers. The bill prevents employment or professional relationship contracts from limiting a healthcare provider's right to practice their licensed profession in any area or for any period after their relationship ends. It also prohibits contracts from restricting their ability to treat or solicit current patients of their former employer or partner. This applies to a range of providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, various counselors, nurses, and physician assistants, but does not apply to contracts for the sale of a practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents restrictive contracts limiting provider practice or patient access post-employment, aligning with improved access and provider rights in healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 211: Revise emergency use of epinephrine in school setting to include nasal spray

SB 211 revises the emergency use of epinephrine in school settings. The bill expands the definition of "medication" that students with asthma, severe allergies, or anaphylaxis can possess and self-administer to include epinephrine nasal spray. It also allows public and nonpublic schools to maintain a stock supply of epinephrine nasal spray, in addition to autoinjectable epinephrine, for emergency administration by school nurses or other authorized personnel. These changes provide schools with additional options for responding to severe allergic reactions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands school emergency medical protocols for student health, enhancing safety and access to care within educational settings.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands emergency epinephrine access in schools for allergic reactions, improving patient safety and access to critical healthcare services in educational settings.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 279: Adopt the dietitian licensure compact

SB 279 enacts the Dietitian Licensure Compact, which allows licensed dietitians and nutritionists to practice in multiple participating states through a "compact privilege" without needing to obtain a separate license in each state. This bill aims to improve public access to dietetics services and reduce administrative burdens for practitioners and state licensing authorities. It establishes uniform requirements for licensure portability, including criminal background checks, and supports military members and their spouses. The compact also enhances cooperation among states in regulating the profession and protecting public health and safety.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables multi-state practice for dietitians, directly improving public access to dietetics services per bill's stated goal.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 241: Adopt the psychology interjurisdictional compact

HB 241 enacts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), allowing licensed psychologists to provide services across state lines. This bill enables psychologists licensed in a compact state to offer telepsychology services or temporary in-person services (up to 30 days annually) in other compact states without needing separate licenses. It establishes a framework for mutual recognition of licenses, defines requirements for cross-state practice, and creates a system for sharing licensure and disciplinary information among member states. The compact aims to increase public access to psychological services while maintaining regulatory oversight and accountability for psychologists. It directly affects licensed psychologists and their clients across participating states.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state mental health services via PSYPACT, improving patient access to psychologists without additional licensing barriers, directly supporting mental health care access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 253: Mandate disclosure of certain information in public health emergency

HB 253 mandates that the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) disclose specific health information daily during a declared public health emergency. This bill requires the DPHHS to publish on its website the total number of individuals hospitalized and those who have died due to the emergency, while adhering to confidentiality laws. For these categories, the department must provide breakdowns by age group, gender, length of hospitalization, date of death, and any contributing underlying conditions or personal characteristics. The aim is to provide the public with detailed, aggregated data about the health impacts of an emergency.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates public disclosure of health data during emergencies to enhance transparency and public health response, aligning with healthcare protection goals.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 456: Revise professions and occupations laws regarding dispensing of drugs

Senate Bill 456 revises professions and occupations laws related to the dispensing of drugs by medical practitioners. It allows health care staff, other than the practitioner, to convey dispensed drugs to patients at the practitioner's office. For this to happen, the practitioner must first prepare and seal the drugs with two forms of identification on the package. The staff member is then required to verify the patient's identity before handing over the medication. The bill maintains other requirements for practitioners who dispense drugs, such as registration with the board of pharmacy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows healthcare staff to dispense medications under verification protocols, improving efficiency and patient access within healthcare services without restricting coverage or funding.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Montana · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 183: Enact PA licensure compact

HB 183 enacts Montana's participation in the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact, allowing PAs licensed in other participating states to practice in Montana without obtaining a separate Montana license. The bill establishes a "compact privilege" requiring PAs to hold an unrestricted license in good standing from a participating state, pass criminal background checks, and comply with Montana's medical practice laws during patient encounters. It directly affects PAs seeking cross-state practice opportunities and Montana patients receiving care from out-of-state PAs, while specifically benefiting military families by enabling easier licensure for active-duty personnel and spouses. The compact also requires participating states to share disciplinary information and implement standardized background checks.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves licensing barriers for PAs, expanding access to healthcare services across state lines per healthcare access support indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare