House Bill 473 amends Montana law to empower the Department of Public Health and Human Services to adopt rules concerning Medicare fee schedules issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The bill specifically modifies sections 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-307, and 53-6-113 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to facilitate the automatic incorporation of updates to these fee schedules. This means that any changes made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services throughout the year will be automatically integrated into state rules without necessitating a separate rulemaking process.

The legislation also emphasizes the importance of transparency and public engagement in the rulemaking process, requiring the Department to provide adequate notice and opportunities for public comment. The new provisions clarify that the rules related to Medicare fee schedules will not be subject to the same requirements as other agency rules, thereby streamlining the implementation of changes in reimbursement rates. The bill is designed to take effect immediately upon passage, ensuring that the Department can promptly adopt and update Medicare fee schedules as needed.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-307, 53-6-113
HB0473_1(1): 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-307, 53-6-113
HB0473_1(2): 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-307, 53-6-113
HB0473_1(3): 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-307, 53-6-113
HB0473_1(4): 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-307, 53-6-113
HB0473_1(5): 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-307, 53-6-113
HB0473_1: 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-307, 53-6-113
HB0473_X: 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-307, 53-6-113