New data confirms that major regulatory reforms passed during the 2021 and 2023 legislative sessions are driving a significant expansion of healthcare access in Montana, helping to ease chronic shortages without spending taxpayer money.

Here’s what the numbers show ⬇️

HB 231 (2021): Repealing Certificate-of-Need (CON) Laws

What it did: Repealed outdated “certificate of need” laws that forced healthcare providers to obtain government permission before opening or expanding services like home health agencies, outpatient surgery centers, and inpatient drug rehabilitation facilities.

Result:

• Since repeal in October 2021, the total number of businesses providing home health, outpatient surgery, and inpatient addiction treatment has surged by 12.5% — following years of stagnation.
• DPHHS confirmed substantial geographic service area expansions, including 18 additional counties now served by home health agencies.

SB 374 (2021): Legalizing In-Office Dispensing

What it did: Authorized Montana medical practitioners, including physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, to dispense medications directly to their patients rather than requiring a separate trip to the pharmacy.

Result:

• 148 practitioners are now registered with the Board of Pharmacy to dispense medications directly, up from just 28 physicians who even qualified under the old restrictive system.
• Many now offer medications at wholesale or near-wholesale prices, saving patients time and money and bypassing insurance middlemen.

SB 112 (2023): Expanding Pharmacist Prescribing Authority

What it did: Authorized Montana pharmacists to independently prescribe routine medications for common, low-risk conditions.

Result:

• While data for this reform is scarce, we found that Albertsons and Safeway now report 72 pharmacists across 32 locations have used this authority to treat conditions, such as strep throat, asthma, and UTIs.
• The reform is improving access to routine care, especially in communities where pharmacists are the most local point of contact.

These reforms show that reducing red tape and burdensome regulations is an effective way to expand healthcare access across Montana without new government spending. This approach should serve as a model for future reforms.

Click here to go to the full report.