53-6-130. Medicaid community assister portal. (1) By May 1, 2026, the department shall establish an online portal that allows a community assister to help an applicant or enrollee who seeks assistance from that community assister to apply for medicaid coverage and to submit required documents.

(2) The online portal must allow a community assister to:

(a) review the status of a medicaid application or redetermination;

(b) view notices from the department to the applicant or enrollee;

(c) report a change in an applicant or enrollee's eligibility status;

(d) view actions required by the applicant or enrollee; and

(e) update the applicant or enrollee's contact information.

(3) The online portal may allow a community assister to:

(a) submit an application for initial coverage or redetermination on behalf of the applicant or enrollee; or

(b) upload verification documents for the applicant or enrollee.

(4) The online portal must allow a medicaid applicant or enrollee to designate one or more community assisters to help the applicant or enrollee with the activities prescribed under subsection (2) and allowed under subsection (3).

(5) For the purposes of this section, "community assister" means a person or organization who helps individuals apply for health coverage under the Montana medicaid program established in 53-6-101.