05.10.2021
Over the past four months, lawmakers in Helena have debated and fine-tuned a slate of policies designed to address Montana’s long-standing issues with medical access and affordability. Several of those bills are now poised to take effect, a development that health care leaders hail as welcome progress following a year of immense challenge.
TELEHEALTH
One major change rises directly from the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the temporary lifting of regulations governing telehealth services. A pair of bills passed by the Legislature make those regulatory suspensions permanent while expanding telehealth’s prospective post-pandemic role in Montana. Senate Bill 347 allows patients to receive remote treatment not just from physicians and mental health professionals but from physical therapists, speech pathologists and audiologists. It also ensures that telehealth is covered under Medicaid and, in a nod to rural areas lacking in reliable interne
May 13, 2021
HELENA, Mont. The 2021 Montana legislative session will be remembered as one of the state’s most consequential as a Republican-led legislature and governor’s office passed new laws restricting abortions, lowering taxes and regulating marijuana.
Use Our Content
But the debate over those and other highly publicized issues may have caused other meaningful legislation related to health care to slip off the public’s radar. Here are five substantial health-related policies that emerged from the recently ended session. They include bills that Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed or is expected to sign into law.
1. The permanent expansion of telehealth
The COVID-19 pandemic drove major changes to Montana health policies, including the permanent expansion of telehealth regulations, a pullback on local public health officialsâ authority and the easing of vaccination requirements for workers and students.
 The 2021 Montana legislative session will be remembered as one of the stateâs most consequential as a Republican-led legislature and governorâs office passed new laws restricting abortions, lowering taxes and regulating marijuana.
But the debate over those and other highly publicized issues may have caused other meaningful legislation related to health care to slip off the publicâs radar. Here are five substantial health-related policies that emerged from the recently ended session. They include bills that Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed or is expected to sign into law.
MT Senate advances bill barring vaccination discrimination
By: Mike Dennison
and last updated 2021-04-22 20:34:42-04
HELENA â On a party-line vote with Republicans in favor, the state Senate Thursday advanced a bill that forbids businesses or the government from making vaccinations a condition of employment or receiving services.
âThis is the camelâs nose under the tent, the foot in the door,â said Sen. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, arguing for the bill. âThis is the opportunity to not just have vaccine status on a passport, but your religious preference, your political identity, what you believe, what you think.â
The Senate endorsed House Bill 702 on a 31-19 vote, setting up a final vote in the coming days and then another vote in the House before the measure would be sent to Gov. Greg Gianforte for his signature.
MT Senate advances bill barring `vaccination discrimination kpax.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kpax.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.