Committee advances behavioral-health decision packages, adopts LFD caseload updates; mixed votes on provider rate boosts

Helena — The Legislative Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services spent the morning and afternoon of Feb. 20, 2025, debating a large stack of BISFIG (behavioral health reform) decision packages, related Medicaid caseload updates and several legislative requests. The panel approved a mix of restricted biennial and one-time (OTO) appropriations, adopted LFD caseload adjustments for Medicaid lines and split on provider rate increases.

The committee began with BISFIG recommendations and updated decision packages (DPs) tied to certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) and other behavioral health items. Lawmakers amended and approved a CCBHC-related DP with coordinating bill language attached, adopting it with one recorded nay. Members debated whether to make several BISFIG items OTO (one-time-only) to allow a pause for evaluation before placing items in the base.

The panel accepted the LFD February caseload updates for Medicaid in multiple divisions (including Health Resources and Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities), incorporating the executive February updates and LFD adjustments into the committee’s caseload funding baseline.

Votes were mixed on supplemental provider-rate increases: several omnibus 3% proposals for provider categories were rejected, while other…