Montana Medicaid would have to act to shorten service waits

The agency that runs Montana Medicaid would have to take steps to reduce or eliminate waiting lists. This covers people enrolled or temporarily treated as enrolled in Montana Medicaid who qualify for services but cannot receive them within 90 days because funding, providers, enrollment slots, or other service capacity are lacking. Priority services would include senior and long-term care, behavioral health care, dental care, family education and support, and home and community services under the developmental disabilities program's 0208 Medicaid waiver. The agency could seek changes to Medicaid program rules and adjust provider payments, including extra payments for services with waiting lists. Other steps would have to follow federal policy.

The agency that runs Montana Medicaid would report to lawmakers about waiting lists and efforts to address them. Reports would cover enrolled or temporarily enrolled Medicaid patients who qualify for services but cannot get them within 90 days because funding or service capacity is lacking. Each report would give monthly counts for every covered waiting list, describe efforts to shorten it, and state when the agency expects it to end. The agency would submit a report each year.