This bill establishes a specific reimbursement rate for Medicaid-covered services provided by physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists in Montana. It sets the initial conversion factor at $39.56 for fiscal year 2026 and requires annual increases of at least the percentage change in the consumer price index for medical care. The legislation also updates state legal definitions to clarify terms like conversion factor, relative value unit, and policy adjuster used in calculating these payments. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and apply to all Medicaid providers of the specified therapy services.
This bill requires Montana's Medicaid program to increase payment rates to healthcare providers by at least 2% each year. It directly affects medical providers who deliver services covered under the state's Medicaid program. The law mandates this annual adjustment automatically unless specific exceptions apply, ensuring providers receive updated compensation without additional legislative action. This change aims to maintain consistent reimbursement levels for covered healthcare services.
This bill requires the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services to improve Medicaid customer service by accepting applications and renewals online and by phone, using text messaging and email for communications, and providing phone hotlines with wait time estimates and callback options. It mandates that all written forms be written in plain language and translated into the state's five most commonly spoken languages, while also requiring the department to reopen 10 local public assistance offices by June 30, 2026, based on call volume and geographic accessibility. The legislation also sets a target for 60% of renewals to be processed without member contact by June 2026, requires all new client-facing technology to be mobile-first, and establishes quarterly reporting requirements to the legislature on application volumes, processing times, and office performance metrics.
This bill revises Montana's Medicaid laws to expand coverage options and improve how the program serves its clients. It directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services to apply for changes that would allow 12 months of continuous Medicaid eligibility for parents, caretaker relatives, and expansion adults without requiring reapplication each year. The legislation also mandates better customer service by enabling online and phone applications, requiring text and email communications, establishing a phone hotline with wait time information, and ensuring digital tools work well on mobile devices. Additionally, the bill creates a Medicaid Client Advisory Board made up of current and former Medicaid recipients and their supporters to provide feedback on program improvements.
This bill requires the Montana Medicaid department to create an online portal by May 1, 2026, that allows community assisters to help individuals apply for Medicaid coverage and submit required documents. The portal will enable community assisters to check application status, view notices, report eligibility changes, see required actions, and update contact information for applicants and enrollees. Community assisters are defined as people or organizations that help individuals apply for health coverage under the Montana Medicaid program. The bill also allows applicants to designate one or more community assisters to access these portal features on their behalf.
This bill updates how Montana Medicaid reimburses healthcare providers by requiring annual cost-of-living adjustments for all covered services. It mandates that contracts with non-physician providers must include automatic fee increases based on the Consumer Price Index for Medical Care, while physician payments continue under existing inflation adjustment rules. The changes apply to all Medicaid service contracts and take effect on July 1, 2025, ensuring provider fees keep pace with inflation without requiring individual renegotiations.
This bill would expand Medicaid coverage in Montana to able-bodied adults who meet specific community engagement requirements, such as participating in workforce development programs. It requires the Department of Public Health and Human Services to apply for a federal waiver by December 1, 2025, and only expand eligibility if the waiver is approved. The bill also mandates that newly eligible adults undergo eligibility redeterminations twice yearly, removes automatic renewals, and establishes a lifetime benefit limit for this group. Additionally, it directs the department to contract with private entities to provide workforce training focused on high-demand occupations like healthcare and cybersecurity.
This bill creates the Senior Care Facility Access and Stabilization Act to revise how Medicaid funds assisted living services in Montana. It establishes new rules for calculating room and board payments, requiring annual adjustments based on recipients' income and Medicaid qualification costs, with specific effective dates starting July 1, 2027. The legislation also directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services to transition certain assisted living services from a waiver program to the Community First Choice Option under Medicaid by January 1, 2028. Additionally, the bill mandates quarterly reporting on program usage, waiting lists, provider participation, and expenditures to the health and human services interim budget committee.
This bill creates the Montana Dental Insurance Transparency and Accountability Act to increase transparency and fairness in dental insurance coverage for Montana residents. It requires dental insurers to report their medical loss ratio annually, showing what percentage of premium dollars are spent on patient care versus administrative costs, and mandates that insurers provide rebates to policyholders if they exceed certain spending thresholds. The law applies to all standalone dental insurance plans sold to Montana residents but excludes health plans with embedded dental benefits and Medicaid-covered services. Insurers must file detailed reports with the state commissioner by March 1 each year, and the commissioner must make this data publicly available online so consumers can compare plans.
This bill directs Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services to stop enrolling new individuals in the expanded Medicaid program for able-bodied adults starting September 1, 2025, while allowing those already enrolled to continue coverage. The state will apply for a federal waiver to maintain funding for existing participants and may implement additional program requirements such as biannual eligibility reviews and lifetime benefit limits if federal funding decreases. The legislation also sets a termination date of June 30, 2025, for the current waiver and includes provisions for the program to end entirely once all enrolled participants have transitioned out of the expanded coverage.
