Healthcare (Hospitals)

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 260: Provide for alteration of service district boundaries

SB 260 establishes procedures for altering the boundaries of hospital and school service districts. It allows real property owners to petition for these changes if they have difficulty accessing public services or to improve public safety services like law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services. The process involves petitions, public hearings, and election procedures to transfer property between existing districts or create new divisions. The bill also provides for sharing tax collections and making reconciliation payments between districts when boundaries are altered.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables boundary changes to improve access to emergency medical services, directly enhancing healthcare access as part of public safety services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Public Health

Track

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 936: Authorize transfers and other necessary measures to implement HB 2-Section B

HB 936 implements specific provisions of the state's General Appropriations Act, primarily affecting healthcare funding and operations. It reallocates a portion of the hospital utilization fee to provide incentive payments for hospital quality and efficiency, and to support independent critical access hospitals. The bill also expands the eligible uses of the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Fund to include student loan repayment for certain healthcare professionals and funding for additional beds at the Montana State Hospital on a one-time basis. Finally, it establishes new reporting requirements for comprehensive school and community treatment services for children and for hiring efforts at the Montana State Hospital.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReallocates hospital fees for quality incentives and expands behavioral health fund to include mental health services and healthcare professional loan repayment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 524: Revise laws relating to category D assisted living facilities

SB 524 revises laws concerning Category D assisted living facilities, which cater to residents who may pose a danger to themselves or others and require assistance with daily living activities. The bill allows these facilities to be independent or co-located with others, limiting them to 15 residents, and clarifies that while not required, prior authorization is needed for any use of seclusion or restraints. It mandates the Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide technical assistance and a specialized reimbursement model. Additionally, it establishes new processes for diverting individuals from the Montana State Hospital or committing them directly to Category D facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies safety protocols for vulnerable residents in assisted living facilities, protecting patient rights and improving care standards under healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Public Health

signed · Montana · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 560: Provide for a hospital community benefit fee

SB 560 requires nonprofit hospitals to report their annual charity care and community benefit spending to the state. The bill mandates that a nonprofit hospital's total community benefit must exceed the amount of property taxes it would have paid if it were not tax-exempt. If a hospital's reported community benefit does not meet this threshold, a fee equal to the difference will be assessed. These collected fees are then deposited into a new Critical Access Health Care Special Revenue Account, which provides funding to critical access hospitals not affiliated with other hospitals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates fees from tax-exempt hospitals to fund critical health care access, creating new state revenue for public services while ensuring proportional community benefit.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates hospital community benefits funding via fees, directing collected funds to Critical Access Health Care Special Revenue Account, directly increasing healthcare program funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 26, 2025

LC 4205: Provide for a hospital community benefit fee

This bill requires nonprofit hospitals in Montana to report their community benefit spending (like charity care and health programs) to the state health department. If a hospital's reported community benefits don't cover its potential property tax liability (the tax it would owe if not exempt), it must pay a fee equal to the difference. The fee funds a special account that provides annual funding to critical access hospitals based on bed count. This directly affects nonprofit hospitals that currently qualify for property tax exemptions but may not meet the new community benefit threshold.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates mandatory fee on hospitals to fund critical access hospitals via special account, directly allocating revenue to essential healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds critical access hospitals via fees from nonprofit hospitals, increasing healthcare funding for rural providers and improving access to essential services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 30, 2025

LC 2363: Revise insurance laws relating to continuous glucose monitors and supplies

This bill 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, if prescribed by a healthcare provider as medically necessary. Insurers cannot deny coverage based on the stage of diabetes or insulin dependency. The coverage must include standard deductibles and coinsurance but cannot impose special cost limits unique to CGM use. This applies to individual disability, health, and membership plans, excluding Medicare supplements, hospital indemnity, and long-term care policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for CGMs, preventing denials based on diabetes type/stage, expanding access to essential diabetes management tools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Prescription Drugs

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died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 860: Require coverage for continuous glucose monitors and supplies

This bill requires most health insurance policies in Montana to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and their supplies for people diagnosed with type I or II diabetes when a medical provider deems them medically necessary. Insurers cannot deny coverage based on the stage of diabetes or insulin dependence, though standard deductibles and copays may apply. The law applies to individual disability, health, and group insurance policies but excludes Medicare supplements, hospital indemnity, and long-term care plans. It ensures consistent coverage for CGMs without special restrictions unique to this treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for CGMs, expanding access to essential diabetes care for patients with type I/II diabetes without restrictive denial criteria.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Prescription Drugs

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died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 3525: Generally revise health care facility disclosure laws

LC 3525, titled "Generally revise health care facility disclosure laws," was a proposed bill that never became law, as it died in committee on May 23, 2025. The bill aimed to update requirements for health care facilities to disclose certain information to patients or the public, though specific provisions were not detailed in the available context. It would have directly affected hospitals, clinics, and other health care providers subject to disclosure regulations. Since the bill did not advance beyond the drafting stage, no concrete policy changes were implemented. The summary is limited by the lack of available details on its exact provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill revises disclosure laws to improve patient transparency, aligning with patient rights protections in healthcare services as indicated by its subject and title.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 1017: Establish limits on hospital related charges

This bill (LC 1017) proposed establishing limits on certain hospital-related charges, potentially affecting patients and healthcare providers. It aimed to set specific caps on out-of-pocket costs for services like emergency care or specific medical procedures. However, the bill died in committee on May 23, 2025, and never became law, meaning no such limits were implemented. As a proposed measure that did not advance, it did not result in any concrete policy changes to hospital billing practices.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProposed caps on hospital charges to limit patient out-of-pocket costs, improving affordability and access - clear support for healthcare policy95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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