Bill > HB474

This bill modifies the timing of annual supplemental Medicaid payments to hospitals by changing the deadline for the Department of Public Health and Human Services from May 5 to May 15 each year. Specifically, the bill amends section 53-6-149 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), which governs the hospital Medicaid reimbursement account in the state special revenue fund. The legislation ensures that money collected from a specific fee source can be used by the department to provide funding for increased Medicaid payments to hospitals, covering both the payment increases and administrative costs associated with implementing these payments. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval, providing a slight extension to the existing deadline for these annual hospital supplemental payments. This small change may help the department have a bit more time to process and distribute the supplemental Medicaid payments to hospitals.