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Montana committee advances bill to license community health workers after supporters stress training and safety
Summary
The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee moved HB 850 forward after supporters — community health workers, hospitals and universities — said licensure would standardize training, improve patient safety and create clearer career pathways; sponsor removed a Medicaid reimbursement provision to avoid fiscal impact.
Representative Ed Buttry opened testimony on House Bill 850, saying the measure would create a professional licensure for Community Health Workers (CHWs) to standardize training, competencies and recognition across Montana. He told the committee the bill aims to let CHWs stay in patients’ homes and help them avoid hospital stays while ensuring consistent training and oversight. “House Bill 850 provides for licensure and regulation of what are called Community Health Workers or CHWs,” Buttry said.
Supporters from hospitals, federally qualified health centers and university training programs told lawmakers CHWs already help reduce emergency and inpatient use and that licensure would formalize the role. Kayla…
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