MT HB732

Requires the Department of Public Health and Human Services to perform interim Medicaid cost settlements for critical access hospitals within 240 days of cost report submission or 30 days after receiving Medicare's interim settlement, whichever is sooner

Aligns Montana Medicaid's reimbursement timeline with Medicare's process, addressing multi-year delays that occurred when Medicaid waited for final Medicare desk audits before settling cost reports

Requires providers to repay overpayments within 60 days or establish a repayment schedule; requires the department to reimburse underpayments within 90 days of notification

Appropriates $67,800 for FY 2026 ($33,900 state, $33,900 federal) and $15,000 for FY 2027 ($7,500 state, $7,500 federal) from the hospital Medicaid reimbursement account and federal funds

Applies retroactively to all cost reports submitted before the effective date, which must be settled within 240 days of the act taking effect