Bill > HB419

This bill establishes a standardized cost reporting process for certain Medicaid service providers in Montana, focusing on specific types of services including adult and children's mental health, substance use disorder, developmental disabilities, and senior and long-term care. The Department of Public Health and Human Services will develop a comprehensive cost reporting framework that includes identifying which providers must submit reports, determining a base year for data collection, and establishing protocols to protect provider cost reporting data. Providers will be required to submit actual expenditure and revenue data reflecting their most recent fiscal year, and the department will collect this information at least once every four years. The goal is to analyze this data and create a report documenting the adequacy of current Medicaid rates, using multiple data sources such as claims data, labor statistics, and peer state comparisons. The bill appropriates $600,000 from the general fund and an additional $600,000 in federal special revenue to support the development of this reporting process. The first report is due by September 1, 2026, and will be provided to budget and legislative committees to potentially support future budget requests for adjusting Medicaid service provider reimbursement rates. The bill also amends existing law to remove a previous reporting requirement and provides the department with rulemaking authority to implement these new cost reporting provisions.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0821