MontanaHealth plans would cover behavioral health screenings at no cost
If enacted, certain individual, state employee, university, and self-funded health plans would cover standardized behavioral health screenings without patient charges beginning January 1, 2026.
What it does
Certain individual health plans would cover standardized, evidence-based behavioral health screenings without an out-of-pocket charge.
State employee and university health plans would cover standardized, evidence-based behavioral health screenings without an out-of-pocket charge, with several listed benefit types excluded.
Certain self-funded employer health arrangements would also have to follow the behavioral health screening coverage rule.
Argument forPeople could receive behavioral health screenings without paying at the visit, which may make early assessment easier to obtain.
Argument againstPlans would have to provide these screenings without charging patients, which could shift more costs into premiums or other plan spending.
More detail
Covered health insurers would have to pay for behavioral health screening assessments without charging the insured person or subscriber. The requirement would apply to individual disability policies, insurance certificates, and membership contracts delivered, issued, renewed, extended, or changed in Montana. The assessment would have to use a standardized, evidence-based instrument. The requirement would apply to policies, certificates, and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, if enacted.
State employee and Montana university health plans would have to cover behavioral health screening assessments without charging the insured person or subscriber. The requirement would apply to state employee group benefit plans and Montana university system group benefit plans, but not listed employee benefits such as disability income, dental, vision, or long-term care policies. The assessment would have to use a standardized, evidence-based instrument. The requirement would apply to policies, certificates, and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, if enacted.
Self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements subject to Montana insurance rules would also be subject to the behavioral health screening coverage requirement. The provision would apply to self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements covered by the listed insurance-code provisions, while other Title 33 rules generally would not apply unless this chapter says otherwise. The provision would apply to arrangements governed by the act on or after January 1, 2026, if enacted.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 18(S) Veto OverrideLatest
- May 23(S) Veto Override Vote in Progress
- May 23(S) Vetoed by Governor Greg GianforteMajor
- May 15(S) Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- May 12(H) Signed by SpeakerPassed House
- Apr 21(S) Signed by PresidentPassed Senate
- Apr 14(S) Returned from Enrolling
- Apr 14(S) Sent to Enrolling
- Apr 12(S) 3rd Reading House Amendments
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 12(S) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 11(S) 2nd Reading House AmendmentsMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 10(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 8(H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8(H) 3rd Reading
- Apr 8(H) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 5(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
- Apr 4(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
- Vote recorded be_concurred_in. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 4(H) Hearing - (H) Appropriations
- Apr 1(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 1(H) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Mar 27(H) Committee Report - (H) Business and Labor
- Vote recorded be_concurred_in_as_amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 27(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Business and Labor
- Mar 6(H) Hearing - (H) Business and Labor
- Feb 26(S) Fiscal Note Printed
- Feb 25(S) Fiscal Note Signed
- Feb 22(S) Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Feb 20(H) 1st Reading
- Feb 20(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Business and LaborMinor
- Feb 19(S) Transmitted to House
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19(S) 3rd Reading
- Feb 19(S) Fiscal Note Requested
- Feb 19(S) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Feb 18(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 18(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Feb 14(S) Committee Report - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
- Vote recorded do_pass_as_amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 14(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
- Feb 5(S) Hearing - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
- Feb 3(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic AffairsMinor
- Jan 31(S) 1st Reading
- Jan 30(S) Introduced
- Jan 30(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Jan 29(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Jan 28(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Jan 28(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Jan 28(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Jan 24(LC) Draft in Edit
- Jan 24(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- 2024
- Dec 15(LC) Drafter AssignedIntroduced
HealthcareConsumer ProtectionMental Health