Bill > HB953

This bill revises Montana's Medicaid laws to allow and support direct primary care agreements, which are alternative healthcare arrangements where patients pay a recurring fee directly to a healthcare provider for a set of primary care services. Specifically, the bill adds direct patient care agreements as a recognized medical service under the Montana Medicaid program, and prohibits the Department of Public Health and Human Services from requiring Medicaid enrollees to participate in a primary care case management service if they have entered into a direct patient care agreement. The bill also adds a definition for "direct patient care agreement" by referencing existing state law (50-4-107), and makes technical amendments to several sections of the Medicaid statute to incorporate this new service type. To support implementation, the bill includes a $5,000 general fund appropriation for the department and sets an effective date of July 1, 2025. This legislative change aims to provide Medicaid recipients with more flexible healthcare service options and potentially reduce administrative complexity in primary care service delivery.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0451