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Bill would let named community assisters track Medicaid renewals through an online portal
Summary
House Bill 601 would create a community‑assister portal that allows Medicaid applicants or enrollees to designate authorized assisters who can view application/redetermination status, see department notices, report changes and potentially submit documents. Supporters said the portal could reduce procedural disenrollments after the Medicaid redetermination unwind and ease burdens on providers.
Representative S. J. Howell described House Bill 601 as a narrowly scoped tool to address problems caused during the Medicaid redetermination process when many eligible Montanans lost coverage for procedural reasons. The bill would create a community‑assister portal built off the department’s existing self‑service portal that allows an enrollee (opt‑in) to authorize named individuals or organizations to view status, notices and actions required and, if the department approves, to submit documents.
Samantha Cooley, DPHHS chief operating officer for Technology Services, appeared as an informational witness and said the portal could be built from the current portal. Cost estimates from the department’s vendor include a major IT enhancement that is largely federally matchable (example figures discussed: a roughly $650,000 component with high federal match and smaller matched items of roughly $54,000 and $10,000). Cooley and other witnesses identified blended federal match rates and cautioned that match assumptions can change.
Proponents — federally qualified health centers, urban Indian organizations, long‑term care and advocacy groups, AARP and others — said the portal would let navigators and certified application counselors track renewals, identify missing documents quickly, reduce long call‑center waits and prevent procedural losses of coverage. Madison Detonancour (Helena Indian Alliance) and others described daily delays and 45‑day processing times that harm vulnerable patients.
Committee members asked practical and legal questions. Representatives sought clarification on how an assister would be designated and whether the existing authorized‑representative framework (42 C.F.R. 435.923) already covers the relationship; witnesses said the authorized‑representative mechanism exists and the bill would add a web‑based workflow so those already authorized could use a portal rather than rely on phone or mail. Technical concerns included ensuring a robust opt‑in naming flow and protecting privacy while allowing organizations to manage caseloads. Representative Howell closed by highlighting the one‑time expense and federal match and urged support. The hearing closed without committee action.
