Senate committee hears bill to require insurers to cover behavioral-health screenings

Senator Mike Yakawich, sponsor of Senate Bill 244, told the Senate Business, Labor & Economic Affairs Committee that the measure would “mandate insurance companies to cover mental health screening” and described the proposal as a preventive, cost‑saving step for the health system.

The bill would require health insurance plans — including state employee group benefits as written in the draft — to provide coverage for behavioral‑health screening assessments. Yakawich said the screenings are short, standardized questionnaires intended to identify early signs of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation that can lead to outpatient treatment instead of costlier acute care.

Why it matters: Testimony to the committee stressed that Montana has had among the highest suicide rates nationally for decades and that many people who die by suicide saw a health provider in the month before their death. Supporters told the panel that removing a small out‑of‑pocket charge for screening could increase patient participation and flags clinicians to provide follow‑up care or referrals.

Billings Clinic testimony: A…