Healthcare

vetoed · Montana · Senate Jul 14, 2025

SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer

SB 422 requires Montana health insurers to cover FDA-approved drugs for advanced or metastatic cancer without forcing patients to first fail other treatments. It prohibits insurers from demanding that patients prove they've tried and failed alternative drugs before approving coverage for new treatments that align with national cancer guidelines. This directly affects patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic cancer in Montana, ensuring faster access to potentially life-saving medications without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. The law applies only to drugs approved by the FDA and consistent with evidence-based cancer treatment protocols.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers cover FDA-approved cancer drugs without prior treatment failure requirements, improving patient access to life-saving treatments per national guidelines.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · Montana · Senate Jul 11, 2025

SB 537: Generally revise marijuana tax laws

SB 537 revises Montana's marijuana tax revenue distribution, directing funds from the marijuana state special revenue account to new and existing state accounts. It requires transferring excess funds annually to specific accounts, including 12% to the HEART account for addiction treatment and mental health programs, 20% to wildlife habitat projects, and 14% to behavioral health initiatives. The bill also allocates funds for law enforcement canine training, sexual assault evidence kits, and homeless shelter support, while modifying existing transfer rules for agencies like the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. These changes apply to all state agencies receiving marijuana tax revenue under Montana law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects marijuana tax revenue to specific public service accounts (12% to addiction treatment, 20% to wildlife, 14% to behavioral health), increasing funding for state programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates 12% to HEART account for addiction treatment and 14% to behavioral health initiatives, directly supporting rehabilitation programs aligned with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates 20% of marijuana tax revenue to wildlife habitat projects, directly funding environmental conservation as specified in bill summary.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates 12% to HEART for addiction/mental health and 14% to behavioral health, directly funding healthcare programs under healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · Montana · House Jun 12, 2025

HB 832: Establish PTSD nonmedication therapy training grant program

HB 832 creates a Montana state grant program to fund training for healthcare providers in nonmedication therapies for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, awards grants to entities developing 2-year projects that train licensed providers (including Veterans Affairs-certified professionals) in these therapies, develop treatment protocols, and engage in community planning. It appropriates $600,000 from the state general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium as a one-time allocation, requiring grantees to report outcomes like providers trained, patients served, and treatment impact by 2026. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $600,000 from state general fund for PTSD therapy training program, directly funding a public health service under budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health provider training for nonmedication PTSD therapies, advancing access to alternative treatments under healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds PTSD therapy training for VA-certified providers, directly improving veterans' access to nonmedication treatment options and healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

vetoed · Montana · Senate Jun 9, 2025

SB 394: Provide for workers' compensation coverage of PTSD for first responders

SB 394 would have expanded Montana's workers' compensation system to cover posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for eligible first responders. It defines "first responder" to include firefighters, law enforcement officers, detention center/prison staff, and emergency care providers, requiring a diagnosis per the latest DSM-5 manual that links PTSD directly to work duties. The bill amended existing laws to allow PTSD claims under workers' compensation, subject to standard procedural requirements. However, this bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 9, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands workers' comp coverage to include PTSD for first responders, directly enhancing mental health care access under healthcare services per bill's explicit coverage expansion.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation benefits for first responders by covering PTSD, directly strengthening workplace health protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · Montana · House Jun 4, 2025

HB 610: Revise preauthorization laws relating to healthcare

HB 610 would have removed a requirement for prior approval (preauthorization) under Montana's Medicaid program for specific FDA-approved antipsychotic drugs. These drugs must be recognized in the latest DSM-5 as effective for certain mental health conditions. The bill would have directly affected Medicaid patients needing these medications and their healthcare providers, who would no longer need to seek pre-approval for covered antipsychotics. The law would have applied to claims for services provided after its effective date. (Note: The bill was vetoed by the governor and the veto override failed, so this policy change did not take effect.)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves preauthorization for FDA-approved antipsychotics in mental health care, improving patient access to necessary medications without bureaucratic delays.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 No ✓ Supports 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 No ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 558: Establish a nurse health corps

HB 558 establishes the Montana Nurse Corps Act, enabling licensed nurses to provide home health care visits to specific patient groups at a fixed $10 fee per visit. It directly affects eligible patients (those enrolled in Medicare/Medicaid or with family income under 400% of the federal poverty level) and participating nurses who join the program. Key provisions include limiting nurse charges to $10 per visit for eligible patients, shielding nurses from liability for ordinary negligence (except gross negligence), and requiring patient notice of this liability protection. The bill also outlines nurse eligibility requirements and program oversight by the state nursing board.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables low-cost home health visits ($10/visit) for Medicare/Medicaid/low-income patients, expanding access to care through a new nurse corps program.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 929: Generally revise laws relating to chiropractic practitioners

HB 929 proposes to revise laws related to chiropractic practitioners in Montana. The bill would establish an optional license endorsement allowing chiropractors who meet specific requirements to prescribe a limited formulary of noncontrolled, nonscheduled drugs. These drugs include items like over-the-counter analgesics, prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants, intended for musculoskeletal treatment and pain. The Board of Chiropractors would be responsible for establishing the educational qualifications, application procedures, and prescribing protocols for this endorsement, for which a fee may be assessed.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands chiropractor prescribing rights for musculoskeletal pain, improving patient access to non-invasive treatment options within healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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