Bill > HB934

This bill establishes the Senior and Long-Term Care Home and Community-Based Services Access and Stabilization Act, which aims to improve access to long-term care services for aged and disabled individuals in Montana. The legislation directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services to transfer assisted living services from the Big Sky Waiver program to the Community First Choice Option program, potentially serving more individuals on the waiting list. The bill mandates annual adjustments to room and board costs for Medicaid recipients in assisted living facilities, with specific calculations based on a person's income and supplemental security income. The department is required to apply for necessary federal waivers by January 1, 2026, and transfer funds as individuals move between programs. The bill includes quarterly reporting requirements to the Health and Human Services Budget Committee, detailing program participation, waiting list numbers, and per-capita expenditures. An appropriation of $56,000 is provided to support implementation, with funding split equally between state general funds and federal Medicaid administrative funds. The bill is contingent on federal approval, and if denied, the key provisions will become void. The effective date is set for July 1, 2025, with the goal of reducing the current waiting list of over 300 aged and disabled individuals seeking home and community-based services.

Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0855