Senate Bill No. introduced by B. Beard establishes the Senior Care Facility Access and Stabilization Act, which outlines new procedures for calculating room and board costs for assisted living facility services. The bill mandates that the Department of Public Health and Human Services adjust the room and board payments for individuals enrolled in the Montana Medicaid program annually. It specifies that payments for those categorically eligible must equal their monthly supplemental security income minus a $100 allowance for personal needs. Additionally, the bill requires the department to apply for necessary waivers and amendments to transition assisted living services from the Big Sky Waiver to the Community First Choice Option under Medicaid.

The legislation also includes reporting requirements for the department, which must provide quarterly updates on the number of individuals served, waiting lists, provider participation, expenditures, and service utilization rates. Notably, the bill introduces a provision for contingent voidness, stating that if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services denies the state plan amendment for assisted living services, the relevant section of the bill will be void. The effective date of the act is set for July 1, 2025.