53-6-1302. (Temporary) Montana HELP Act program -- legislative findings and purpose. (1) There is a Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership Act program established through a collaborative effort of the department of public health and human services and the department of labor and industry to:

(a) provide coverage of health care services for low-income Montanans;

(b) improve the readiness of program participants to enter the workforce or obtain better-paying jobs; and

(c) reduce the dependence of Montanans on public assistance programs.

(2) The legislature finds that improving the delivery of health care services to Montanans requires state government, health care providers, patient advocates, and other parties interested in high-quality, affordable health care to collaborate in order to:

(a) increase the availability of high-quality health care to Montanans;

(b) provide greater value for the tax dollars spent on the Montana medicaid program;

(c) reduce health care costs;

(d) provide incentives that encourage Montanans to take greater responsibility for their personal health;

(e) boost Montana's economy by reducing the costs of uncompensated care; and

(f) reduce or minimize the shifting of payment for unreimbursed health care costs to patients with health insurance.

(3) The legislature further finds that providing greater value for the dollars spent on the medicaid program requires considering options for delivering services in a more efficient and cost-effective manner, including but not limited to:

(a) offering incentives to encourage health care providers to achieve measurable performance outcomes;

(b) improving the coordination of care among health care providers who participate in the medicaid program;

(c) reducing preventable hospital readmissions; and

(d) exploring methods of medicaid payment that promote quality of care and efficiencies.

(4) The legislature further finds that assessing workforce readiness, providing necessary job training or skill development, and establishing community engagement requirements for individuals who need assistance with health care costs could help those individuals obtain employment that has health care coverage benefits or that would allow them to purchase their own health insurance coverage.

(5) The legislature further finds that:

(a) it is important to implement additional fraud, waste, and abuse safeguards to protect and preserve the integrity of the medicaid program and the unemployment insurance program for individuals who qualify for the programs; and

(b) state policymakers have an interest in testing the effectiveness of wellness incentives in order to collect and analyze information about the correlation between wellness incentives and health status.

(6) The purposes of the act are to:

(a) modify and enhance Montana's health care delivery system to provide access to high-quality, affordable health care for all Montana citizens; and

(b) provide low-income Montanans with opportunities to improve their readiness for work or to obtain higher-paying jobs.

(7) The department of labor and industry and the department of public health and human services shall maximize the use of existing resources in administering the program. (Terminates June 30, 2025--secs. 38, 48, Ch. 415, L. 2019.)