Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Healthworkforce topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee moves forward with CHW licensure; Medicaid payment language removed
Summary
The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee voted to advance House Bill 850, which would license community health workers (CHWs) in Montana; an amendment removing the Medicaid reimbursement provision was adopted to reduce fiscal impact.
Representative Ed Buttry introduced House Bill 850 to establish licensure and regulation for Community Health Workers, saying the bill standardizes training and recognizes CHWs as part of the health care team. "House Bill 8 50 provides for licensure and regulation of what are called Community Health Workers or CHWs," he told the committee.
Supporters — including CHWs and health-system representatives from Saint Peter's Health, the Montana Primary Care Association and the Montana Hospital Association — described how CHWs help people navigate complex systems, keep patients at home and reduce emergency usage. Kayla Morris, supervisor of community-based services at Saint Peter's Health, said early leadership concerns about sending unlicensed people into patients' homes demonstrated the need for a licensure pathway. "Licensure doesn't add red tape. It adds accountability, quality, and structure to a workforce that is already doing the work," she said.
Department of Labor counsel Quinlan O'Connor confirmed the Department of Labor and Industry could house the license and implement rulemaking in the Acela licensing system; DPHHS Medicaid staff warned that allowing Medicaid reimbursement would require careful federal coordination to avoid duplicative billings. Because of those budget concerns, the sponsor asked for — and the committee adopted — an amendment that strikes section 7 of the bill (the Medicaid payment language). Representative Buttry told members removing that section would reduce the fiscal note to near $0 except for a licensing setup charge.
The committee voted to move HB850, as amended, out of committee to the floor. The committee also directed a small group to follow up on technical questions related to title and related amendments before floor action.
Next steps: HB850 was advanced from the committee to the Senate floor as amended; any subsequent changes to Medicaid reimbursement would require future legislative action or separate deliberation.
