This bill amends the Medicaid Buy-In Program in Montana to expand eligibility to include children with disabilities, thereby enhancing access to essential medical services. Key changes include the insertion of the term "buy-in" in various sections related to the program, and the establishment of rules by the Department of Public Health and Human Services that set eligibility criteria without applying financial limits below $15,000 for resources other than income for children under 19. The bill also prohibits the department from adopting rules that would exclude children from Medicaid services or require prior authorization for those services, ensuring that children with disabilities can receive necessary care.

Additionally, the bill outlines the department's authority to set income and resource limitations in accordance with federal law and clarifies that individual retirement accounts created while a participant is eligible for the program will not count as resources. It emphasizes continuous eligibility for medical assistance for certain groups, including children and pregnant women, and mandates cooperation with nonprofit organizations to provide healthcare to children ineligible for Medicaid. The bill also includes appropriations for the Medicaid Buy-In Program for children with disabilities for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and it sets the effective date for the provisions as July 1, 2025. Key insertions include the addition of "and children" in relation to workers with disabilities and specific eligibility criteria and cost-sharing requirements for families.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_1(1): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_1(2): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_1(3): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_1(4): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_1(5): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_1: 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_X(1): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_X(2): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_X(3): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_X(4): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_X(5): 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195
HB0881_X: 53-6-113, 53-6-131, 53-6-195