All Roll Calls
Yes: 258 • No: 38
MontanaHB 39969th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Revise prior authorization laws
Sponsored By: Jonathan Karlen (Democrat)
Became Law
Health Care ServicesInsurance
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Fewer prior auths for prescriptions
The law limits when plans can require prior authorization for drugs. It removes prior authorization for formulary insulin for people with diabetes, long-acting injectable antipsychotics, and formulary nonspecialty inhalers for asthma, COPD, or chronic lung disease. Plans also cannot require prior authorization for many formulary oral or inhaled nonbiologic generics, unless they are controlled substances or listed as Medicare Part D specialty-tier drugs. After you have taken the same generic at the same quantity for 6 months without a break, no prior authorization is allowed, except for controlled substances. A dose change within FDA-approved or standard clinical dosing cannot trigger prior authorization. If a therapeutic duplication at the same dose was already approved, the plan cannot require that same prior authorization again.
Specialist must review drug denials
When a plan denies a drug during prior authorization, a physician specialist in your condition must make the decision. The plan must send a written denial notice that lists reasonable covered alternatives on its formulary. This helps you and your doctor move to covered options faster after a denial.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Jonathan Karlen
Democrat • House
Cosponsors
Willis Curdy
Democrat • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/3/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 38 • No: 12
House vote • 4/2/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 43 • No: 7
House vote • 3/4/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 86 • No: 13
House vote • 3/3/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 91 • No: 6
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
4/17/2025HouseSigned by Governor
4/16/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
4/9/2025HouseSigned by President
4/9/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
4/7/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/4/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/3/2025House3rd Reading Concurred
4/3/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred
4/2/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred
3/24/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred
3/24/2025SenateHearing
3/19/2025SenateReferred to Committee
3/5/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
3/4/2025House3rd Reading Passed
3/4/2025House2nd Reading Passed
3/3/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Passed as Amended
2/27/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended
2/27/2025HouseFiscal Note Printed
2/27/2025HouseFiscal Note Signed
2/26/2025HouseFiscal Note Received
2/26/2025HouseHearing
2/20/2025HouseFiscal Note Requested
2/19/2025HouseRereferred to Committee
2/10/2025HouseHearing Canceled
2/7/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/15/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
2/27/2025
Introduced
2/5/2025