Senate Bill 244 requires health insurance policies in Montana to cover behavioral health screenings and assessments at no out-of-pocket cost to the insured, provided these services are requested by the insured and rendered by a preferred provider using a standardized, evidence-based instrument. The bill mandates that this coverage be included in state employee group benefit plans, disability insurance, health maintenance organizations, and self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements. To implement these requirements, the bill amends Sections 2-18-704, 33-31-111, and 33-35-306 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), with new legal language inserted to clarify that state employee group benefit plans and the Montana university system group benefits plans must provide this coverage at no cost.

Furthermore, the bill specifies that self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements will adhere to various provisions of the insurance code, with certain deletions from existing law. The effective date for the bill is set for January 1, 2026, applying to policies, certificates, and contracts issued or renewed on or after that date. This structured implementation aims to enhance access to behavioral health services for insured individuals in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_1(1): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_1(2): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_1(3): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_1(4): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_1(5): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_1: 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(1): 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(10): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(11): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(12): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(13): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(14): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(15): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(2): 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(3): 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(4): 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(5): 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(6): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(7): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(8): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2(9): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_2: 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(1): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(10): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(2): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(3): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(4): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(5): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(6): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(7): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(8): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3(9): 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_3: 2-18-704, 33-35-306
SB0244_X(1): 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_X(2): 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_X(3): 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_X(4): 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306
SB0244_X: 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306