Healthcare

vetoed · Montana · Senate Jun 18, 2025

SB 244: Revise laws related to health insurance coverage of behavioral health screening

SB 244 requires all health insurance plans sold in Montana to cover behavioral health screenings and assessments at no cost to the insured. This applies to state employee health plans, disability insurance, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and self-funded workplace plans. Screenings must use standardized, evidence-based tools, but are optional - insured individuals must actively request them. The bill amends Montana insurance codes to include these coverage requirements, ensuring people can access mental health screenings without out-of-pocket costs when they choose to participate.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost behavioral health screenings in all insurance plans, expanding access to mental health services without cost-sharing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 136: Prohibit consent as a defense for physician assisted suicide

SB 136 amends Montana's criminal code (Section 45-2-211, MCA) to state that a patient's consent to physician aid in dying is not a defense to a homicide charge against the physician. The bill defines "physician aid in dying" as a physician prescribing a lethal medication for the patient to self-administer, excluding standard comfort care or withholding life-sustaining treatment. This directly affects physicians who provide such aid, making their actions prosecutable as homicide if consent is claimed as a defense. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not impact existing practices of comfort care or end-of-life treatment under Montana law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes consent as a defense for physician-assisted suicide, making it prosecutable as homicide under criminal code, expanding criminalization of medical practices.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill criminalizes physician-assisted suicide by removing consent as a defense, restricting access to a specific healthcare service under homicide laws.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 474: Require acceptance of religious and personal medical exemptions to required immunizations

SB 474 would have expanded school immunization exemptions in Montana to include religious exemptions and a new "personal medical informed consent" exemption requiring only a notarized statement. This new exemption would allow students to decline vaccines after consulting a healthcare provider (without needing a provider's signature), distinct from the existing medical exemption requiring a healthcare provider's written statement. The bill also amended school immunization laws (20-5-405 and 49-2-312) to prevent schools from being sued for injuries related to exempt students and to block overly burdensome exemption forms. The bill died in committee on May 23, 2025, and never became law.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExpands vaccine exemptions, weakening school immunization requirements and public health protections by replacing medical exemption standards with less stringent notarized consent.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 185: Provide for continuous healthy Montana kids plan eligibility for children under 6

HB 185 directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to implement continuous eligibility for children under six years old in the Healthy Montana Kids plan. This means eligible children would remain enrolled in the program until their sixth birthday, regardless of changes in family income or other circumstances that might otherwise make them ineligible. DPHHS is required to apply for the necessary federal waivers and state plan amendments by July 1, 2025, and implement the continuous eligibility within six months of federal approval. The bill aims to provide consistent health coverage for young children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures continuous health coverage for children under six without income-based interruptions, expanding access to healthcare services95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 364: Generally revise laws related to immunizations

HB 364 proposes to update laws concerning student immunizations and exemptions in K-12 schools. It would require school governing authorities to submit written reports on student immunization and exemption data to state and local health departments. These reports must only contain deidentified or aggregate information, ensuring student privacy. The Department of Public Health and Human Services would determine the specific form and schedule for these reports.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires school immunization data reporting for public health oversight, strengthening disease prevention efforts under healthcare policy.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires deidentified health data reporting to protect student privacy, aligning with tech policy data protection standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 851: Create department of health services

HB 851 proposes to create a new state agency called the Department of Health Services. This new department would take over specific human services functions currently managed by the Department of Public Health and Human Services. These transferred responsibilities include the administration of developmental disabilities services, mental health services (like the Montana State Hospital), chemical dependency services, and veterans' long-term care facilities. The bill also provides an appropriation for the new department, grants it rulemaking authority, and requires its contracts to include dispute resolution clauses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new department via appropriation, funding transferred health services functions (e.g., mental health, veterans care) as part of state budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates new department to manage mental health, developmental disabilities, and chemical dependency services with funding, advancing healthcare delivery95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly transfers veterans' long-term care facilities to new department and includes funding appropriation for these services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 947: Revise insurance laws relating to continuous glucose monitors and supplies

HB 947 requires most individual health insurance policies in Montana to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and their supplies for people diagnosed with type I or type II diabetes when medically necessary, as prescribed by a healthcare provider. The bill prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on diabetes severity or insulin dependence, and bans special deductibles or limits specifically for CGMs - though standard deductibles may still apply. This affects diabetes patients covered by individual disability, health, or membership insurance plans (excluding Medicare supplements, hospital indemnity, or long-term care policies). The law aims to ensure consistent access to these critical blood sugar monitoring tools without discriminatory coverage barriers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for CGMs, prohibits denial based on diabetes severity, and bans special deductibles - expanding access to essential diabetes care.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 274: Provide medicaid coverage for medical respite care for homeless people

HB 274 sought to establish a medical respite care program in Montana for homeless individuals who are eligible for Medicaid. This program would have provided short-term housing in residential facilities with supportive medical services for those recovering from illness or injury but not requiring hospitalization. Services would have included treatment plan monitoring, medication management, immunizations, discharge planning, and transportation for medical appointments. The bill directed the Department of Public Health and Human Services to seek federal approval for the program and to report annually on its costs and the number of individuals served.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly expands Medicaid coverage for medical respite care, providing health services to homeless individuals and improving access to recovery support.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides short-term housing via medical respite care for homeless individuals, directly addressing homelessness and advancing housing access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 783: Generally revise health insurance laws relating to certain conditions

HB 783 aimed to revise health insurance laws by requiring coverage for specific conditions and treatments. It would have mandated individual health insurance policies to cover glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome when medically necessary, including for diagnoses of diabetes or class 3 obesity. While allowing standard cost-sharing and cost containment measures, the bill prohibited special limitations on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Additionally, it sought to add other mandatory coverages, such as fertility preservation services and therapies for Down syndrome, to state group health plans. The bill would have affected individuals with these conditions and those covered by applicable health insurance policies in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates coverage for specific treatments (GLP-1 agonists, PCOS) when medically necessary, prohibiting special limitations and expanding access to essential healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 310: Establish grant program to increase community shelter capacity for homeless population

HB 310 proposed establishing a state matching grant program to increase community shelter capacity for the homeless population. Administered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, these grants would help local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations. The funds would specifically target services for senior citizens, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, youth transitioning from foster care, and individuals with mental health or substance use disorders. Applicants would be required to provide matching funds and collaborate with existing homelessness service providers. The bill appropriated $2 million from the general fund for the program, which was set to operate from July 2025 to June 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes state matching grants (approp) for homeless shelter capacity, increasing public funding for essential social services targeting vulnerable populations.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly targets mental health services for homeless individuals with mental health disorders through state grant program.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes state grants to increase homeless shelter capacity, directly funding housing services for vulnerable groups including seniors, veterans, and those with mental health needs, addressing homelessness.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly targets veterans as a primary beneficiary group for grant-funded shelter services under the community shelter program, directly advancing veteran support through funding.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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