Committee hears proposal to remove sunset on treatment-voucher program for residential recovery (ASAM 3.1)

Senator Mike Yakawich urged the Senate Public Health Committee to remove the sunset on the residential-treatment voucher program created by House Bill 311, saying the program helps remove barriers to treatment by covering room-and-board and other ancillary needs for people entering ASAM 3.1 residential programs.

"Often when people are seeking treatment, you want to remove as many barriers to seeking treatment," Yakawich said, describing the voucher as a "kick start to recovery" for people who otherwise cannot afford room and board while in care.

Proponents included treatment providers, tribal representatives and people in recovery. Megan Zawacki, a physician assistant who works in addiction medicine, told the committee certain medications (for example, injectable formulations) can cost thousands of dollars a month and that removing financial barriers to treatment is life-saving. Patrick Yawake, testifying for the Blackfeet Tribe and Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, said removing the sunset would meet an "instantaneous dire need" for low-income Montanans who require chemical dependency treatment.

Service providers described financial gaps that the voucher helps cover. Witnesses said the voucher provides $35 per day up to $1,000 per person per year (the transcript shows $1,000 per person and referenced a $500,000 account cap in statutory language), and that Medicaid bundled rates for ASAM 3.1 providers (cited by witnesses) reimburse roughly $210 per day while the actual cost of care can be around $330 per day. Providers said the voucher helps pay for clothing, transportation, identification fees, peer-support services and other items not covered by Medicaid bundled rates.

Program managers and providers reported early demand: they told the committee about hundreds of applications and projections that 250–280 people could be served in the next year if funding and the program continue. Providers said the program has already helped formerly homeless or disconnected people obtain treatment, stabilize, obtain IDs and engage in employment or housing plans; several people in recovery described the program as instrumental to their success in treatment.

DPHHS treatment bureau chief Isaac Coy was present to answer technical questions and said a fiscal note had been submitted (the committee was told a fiscal note had been prepared and not yet posted to the legislative site when the sponsor met with DPHHS). Witnesses asked for removal of the sunset to ensure continuity of funding for residential providers and to avoid losing programs already at financial risk.

Sponsor closing: Senator Yakawich said the voucher program helps people access treatment now and urged the committee to remove the sunset so the program can continue serving Montanans in need.

The transcript includes detailed provider testimony and personal accounts in support and does not record opponents or a committee vote on SB 135 in the hearing record.