House Bill No. introduced by S. Howell, E. Buttrey, and M. Caferro aims to direct the Department of Public Health and Human Services in Montana to apply for a Medicaid Section 1115 waiver to reinstate 12-month continuous eligibility for certain Medicaid coverage groups. Specifically, the bill targets parents, caretaker relatives, and adults eligible for Medicaid under Title 53, chapter 6, part 13, allowing them to receive coverage as they did prior to amendments made in March and December of 2021. The department is required to apply for this waiver by September 30, 2025.

The bill includes a new section that outlines the directive for the department to seek this waiver, replacing previous language that referred to amendments to existing waivers. Additionally, it establishes an immediate effective date upon passage and approval of the act. This legislative effort seeks to enhance Medicaid coverage stability for vulnerable populations in Montana.