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Committee advances bill to split Montana health agency after heated debate over costs and care
Summary
Lawmakers advanced HB 851 to create a new Department of Health Services by moving state-run health care facilities out of the Department of Public Health and Human Services. Proponents said the split would improve oversight and patient care; opponents warned of duplication, higher administrative costs and disrupted Medicaid billing. The committee approved the bill 15–4.
Representative Jay Fitzpatrick introduced HB 851, proposing to split the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) into two agencies: a retained Department of Public Health and Human Services (handling income assistance, Medicaid, public health) and a new Department of Health Services to oversee state health care facilities, veterans homes and institutional behavioral-health programs.
Fitzpatrick framed the proposal as an efficiency and accountability measure. "Small is beautiful," he said in closing, arguing that a smaller, mission-specific agency…
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