Senate Bill 244 mandates that health insurance policies in Montana provide coverage for optional behavioral health screenings and assessments at no out-of-pocket cost to the insured. This coverage is required to be included in state employee group benefit plans, as well as in individual disability policies, health maintenance organizations, and self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements. The bill specifies that the insured must request these screenings and assessments, which are to be conducted using a standardized, evidence-based instrument. Additionally, individuals will be informed of their option to opt out of the screenings.

The bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically inserting new language into Section 2-18-704 to ensure that behavioral health screenings and assessments are covered under insurance contracts. It also makes adjustments to Sections 33-31-111 and 33-35-306 to clarify the applicability of these provisions to health maintenance organizations and other insurance arrangements. Some provisions in Section 33-35-306 are retained while others are deleted, including references to specific subsections. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, applying to policies, certificates, and contracts issued or renewed on or after that date.

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: 2-18-704, 33-31-111, 33-35-306