Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB317: Prohibit health insurers from performing prior authorization on psychiatric drugs in shortage or discontinued
Status: Signed into law, May 13, 2025
What the bill says
An act prohibiting health insurance issuers from performing prior authorization on psychiatric drugs that are in shortage or discontinued; and amending section 3332-221, mca.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT PROHIBITING HEALTH INSURANCE ISSUERS FROM PERFORMING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION ON PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS THAT ARE IN SHORTAGE OR DISCONTINUED; AND AMENDING SECTION 3332-221, MCA. Section 1. Section 33-32-221, MCA, is amended to read: "33-32-221. Prior authorization requirements. (1) A health insurance issuer may not perform prior authorization on benefits for: (a) any generic prescription drug that is not listed within any of the schedules of controlled substances found at 21 CFR 1308.11 through 21 CFR 1308.15 or the schedules of controlled substances found in Title 50, chapter 32, after a covered person has been prescribed the covered drug at the same quantity without interruption for 6 months; (b) any prescription drug or drugs, generic or brand name, on the grounds of therapeutic duplication for the same drug if the covered person has already been subject to prior authorization on the grounds of therapeutic duplication for the same dosage of the prescription drug or drugs and coverage of the prescription drug or drugs was approved; (c) any prescription drug, generic or brand name, solely because the dosage of the medication for the covered person has been adjusted by the prescriber of the prescription drug, as long as the dosage is within the dosage approved by the food and drug administration or is consistent with clinical dosing for the medication; or (d) …
Sponsors
- Lenz, Dennis (R, 25) · primary sponsor
- Seekins-Crowe, Kerri (R, 39)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 11, 2025): 98 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 10, 2025): 99 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 4, 2025): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Mental Illness or Incapacity, Insurance, Health Care Services, Health
Common questions
- What is SB317?
- SB317 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Prohibit health insurers from performing prior authorization on psychiatric drugs in shortage or discontinued.
- What does SB317 do?
- In its own words: An act prohibiting health insurance issuers from performing prior authorization on psychiatric drugs that are in shortage or discontinued; and amending section 3332-221, mca.
- What is the status of SB317?
- Signed into law as of May 13, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 13, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB317?
- Lenz, Dennis (R, 25), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB317?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3691
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.