Healthcare

vetoed · Montana · House Jul 15, 2025

HB 585: Revise provider rate laws for physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists

HB 585 would have revised Montana's Medicaid reimbursement rates for physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists. It set a 2026 Medicaid payment rate of $39.56 per service unit and required annual rate increases tied to the medical care component of the U.S. Consumer Price Index. This directly affected these healthcare providers who bill Medicaid for services, ensuring their payments adjusted with inflation. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was vetoed by the governor and later failed to override in the legislature.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for therapists with inflation-linked annual adjustments, ensuring stable provider payments and maintaining access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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

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

Sub-Topics Public Health Homelessness

Track

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

Sub-Topics Student Health

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 500: Generally revise laws related to chiropractic practitioners

HB 500 aimed to revise laws related to chiropractic practitioners in Montana. The bill sought to establish a new license endorsement, allowing chiropractors who obtain it to prescribe certain noncontrolled, nonscheduled drugs like muscle relaxants and NSAIDs for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The Board of Chiropractors would have been responsible for setting the educational qualifications and protocols for this prescriptive authority. Additionally, the bill proposed that chiropractic services be included as part of the Montana Medicaid program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands chiropractors' prescriptive authority for noncontrolled drugs, improving patient access to treatment options within healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 620: Revise laws prohibiting contracts that restrict practice to include physicians of all specialties

House Bill 620 revises state law concerning contracts that restrict a healthcare provider's ability to practice after leaving an employer or partnership. It expands existing protections, previously applicable to specific behavioral health professionals, to now include licensed physicians of all specialties. The bill amends Section 28-2-724, MCA, ensuring that contracts cannot prevent these medical professionals from practicing, providing services, or establishing patient relationships in any geographic area after their professional relationship ends.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands protections for physicians to practice freely after employment changes, preventing restrictive contracts that could limit patient access to care and strengthen healthcare provider mobility.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands employment protections for physicians by prohibiting restrictive practice contracts, advancing workers' right to practice freely post-employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

passed both · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HJ 35: Joint resolution urging changes to federal wildfire policy

HJ 35 is a joint resolution from the Montana Legislature urging federal officials to modify current federal land management and wildfire policies. It calls for an aggressive initial attack on wildfires across all federal lands and for federal forest roads to remain open for access and fire suppression. The resolution also recommends that EPA air quality standards include wildfire smoke and that federal "let it burn" policies be reversed, ensuring NEPA processes are followed. Finally, it advocates for increased involvement of state and local governments and stakeholder groups in federal fire management decisions to protect Montana's communities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdvocates for EPA air quality standards including wildfire smoke and reversing 'let it burn' policies to protect natural resources and reduce pollution from wildfires.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill advocates including wildfire smoke in EPA air quality standards, a public health program, strengthening air quality measures affecting health.80% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly urges federal forest roads to remain open for fire suppression access, directly supporting transportation infrastructure maintenance and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Forestry Public Lands

Track

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 574: Authorizing implementation of the certified community behavioral health clinic model

HB 574 authorizes the Department of Public Health and Human Services to establish a program for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) by October 1, 2026. These clinics will provide comprehensive behavioral health services, including targeted case management, peer support, and outreach to emergency rooms and law enforcement. The bill also outlines specific requirements for CCBHCs, such as providing urgent care within one business day, offering a sliding fee scale, and not refusing services due to inability to pay. Additionally, it directs the department to establish reimbursement rates, monitor clinic performance, and develop an incentive program for clinics that achieve exceptional outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes CCBHCs to expand mental health services with urgent care access, sliding fees, and outreach - directly advancing behavioral health care access and coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Primary Care Public Health

died · Montana · House Feb 19, 2025

HB 510: Generally revise medicaid services

HB 510, a withdrawn 2025 Montana bill, aimed to modernize Medicaid services for clients by requiring the Department of Public Health and Human Services to: (1) accept online/phone applications and electronic documents, (2) use plain language and translate materials into Montana's five most common languages, (3) provide mobile-friendly technology for client access, (4) offer hotline callback options with wait times, and (5) submit quarterly service reports to legislators. It also mandated reopening 10 public assistance offices by 2026 based on client demand and disenrollment data, with $3 million annually allocated for implementation. The bill directly affected Montana Medicaid clients, providers, and county offices by streamlining enrollment, reducing administrative errors, and improving accessibility. It was introduced on February 14, 2025, but withdrawn just days later under House Rule H30-50(3)(b).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModernizes Medicaid access via digital tools, language support, and transparency - directly improves patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates online/phone applications, mobile access, and electronic documents for Medicaid, expanding digital service access as a core requirement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

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

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs