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Committee advances bill asking DPHHS to set payment rules for community commitments
Summary
HB 949 asks the Department of Public Health and Human Services to establish fee schedules and rules to reimburse community providers for costs tied to court‑ordered commitments; hospitals and mental‑health groups testified that the state needs a plan to pay providers holding committed patients.
Representative Mary Cafaro opened the hearing on House Bill 949, which requires DPHHS to develop an administrative fee schedule and rules to address costs associated with court commitments to community facilities. Cafaro said the department currently lacks a plan for paying providers for community commitments created by another bill (Senate Bill 430) and that HB 949 simply asks the department to develop a workable financing mechanism.
Multiple providers and advocacy groups testified in support. Matt Kuntz of NAMI Montana said community commitments can prevent unnecessary hospitalization but "if you want them, you have to pay for them." JJ Carmody, speaking for Billings Clinic/Logan Health, urged the committee to include a payment provision for hospitals holding patients who are committed but awaiting placement at the state hospital; she said her facility recently held a committed patient for more than 10 days and estimated institutional per‑diem costs could be around $1,000 or more depending on care needs.
The Montana Medical Association and providers emphasized the need for sustainable funding so inpatient psychiatric facilities can operate locally. The bill was moved in executive action and passed out of committee by voice vote; the departmental summary given in executive session noted an appropriation of $5,000 to implement the fee schedule work.
If enacted, DPHHS would have authority to create administrative rules and a per‑member or per‑day payment schedule to reimburse facilities that incur costs serving committed individuals.
