House Bill No. introduced by E. Buttrey and others aims to define the Medicaid reimbursement conversion factor specifically for services provided by physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists. The bill establishes that the fee for these services will be calculated by multiplying a conversion factor by the relative value unit for the service, with the conversion factor set at $39.56 for the state fiscal year 2026. Additionally, the Department of Public Health and Human Services is granted the authority to adjust the conversion factor in subsequent years to align with the consumer price index for medical care, rather than mandating a minimum percentage increase as previously required.

The bill also amends Section 53-6-124 of the Montana Code Annotated to include definitions relevant to the new reimbursement structure, expanding the definition of "conversion factor" to include physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists. It clarifies the terms related to Medicaid services and introduces new definitions for these healthcare professionals. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is intended to be codified as part of Title 53, chapter 6, part 1 of the Montana Code.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 53-6-124
HB0585_1(1): 53-6-124
HB0585_1(2): 53-6-124
HB0585_1(3): 53-6-124
HB0585_1(4): 53-6-124
HB0585_1(5): 53-6-124
HB0585_1(6): 53-6-124
HB0585_1(7): 53-6-124
HB0585_1: 53-6-124
HB0585_2(1): 53-6-124
HB0585_2(2): 53-6-124
HB0585_2(3): 53-6-124
HB0585_2(4): 53-6-124
HB0585_2(5): 53-6-124
HB0585_2(6): 53-6-124
HB0585_2(7): 53-6-124
HB0585_2(8): 53-6-124
HB0585_2: 53-6-124