# Montana HB 143: Revise definition of treating physician to include physician assistants without regard to proximity of other providers

Montana HB 143, Revise definition of treating physician to include physician assistants without regard to proximity of other providers, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Jodee Etchart (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-04-17 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB143-2025
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Montana HB 143
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Revise definition of treating physician to include physician assistants without regard to proximity of other providers
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-04-17, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: Jodee Etchart (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Health Care Services, Professions and Occupations Generally, Workers' Compensation
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (292 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Physician assistants can treat and rate workers' comp injuries: benefit, low. If you are hurt at work in Montana, a licensed physician assistant can be your treating provider for workers’ comp. This is allowed even when a doctor is nearby. A licensed physician assistant can also perform your impairment evaluation. They must be licensed in Montana and work within their scope…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jodee Etchart (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dennis Lenz (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-27 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-26 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 44 | 6 |   |
| 2025-01-27 | House | Do Pass | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-24 | House | Do Pass | pass | 100 | 0 |   |

## Actions (28)

- 2025-04-17: Chapter Number Assigned (House)
- 2025-04-16: Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-04-09: Transmitted to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-09: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-04-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-03-28: Returned from Enrolling (House)
- 2025-03-27: Sent to Enrolling (House)
- 2025-03-27: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-26: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-20: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-03-19: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-03-03: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Transmitted to Senate (House)
- 2025-01-27: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-01-24: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-01-21: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-01-21: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-01-21: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-01-16: Fiscal Note Printed (House)
- 2025-01-15: Fiscal Note Signed (House)
- 2025-01-15: Fiscal Note Received (House)
- 2025-01-14: Hearing (House)
- 2025-01-09: 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-01-09: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2025-01-08: Fiscal Note Requested (House)
- 2025-01-08: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- Enrolled, 2025-04-15: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=3ad9d156-4e91-42a0-913f-4a089e8d18ae)
- As Amended (Version 2), 2025-03-28: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=c6159174-8009-4e6d-91a2-cc281c2f835e)
- Introduced, 2025-01-08: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=8c524331-18ae-42e2-a149-303b134fa781)

## Related bills

- SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed)
- HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed)
- HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed)
- SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed)
- SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed)
- SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed)

## Sources
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=3ad9d156-4e91-42a0-913f-4a089e8d18ae)
- [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=c6159174-8009-4e6d-91a2-cc281c2f835e)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=8c524331-18ae-42e2-a149-303b134fa781)

## Related
- [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025)
- [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025)
- [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025)
- [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025)
- [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025)
- [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025)
- [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills)
- [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB143-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).