Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateMontanaIntroduced
SB 244: Revise laws related to health insurance coverage of behavioral health screening
Mike Yakawich
SB 244 status: Introduced — (S) Veto Override (updated Jun 18, 2025).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
Not enough information
Score:Not enough information
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 60/100
Constitutionality90%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion80%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill mandates that health insurance companies cover behavioral health screenings.
Who is affected
Health insurance companies, insurance policyholders, and individuals seeking mental health services.
Requirements and enforcement
Insurers must cover the cost of mental health checkups as part of standard policies.
Costs and funding
Direct costs to insurers for screening coverage, with likely downstream premium increases.
When it takes effect
Current status indicates a veto override process.
Potential benefits
Improved early detection of mental illness and increased access to preventive mental healthcare.
Risks and tradeoffs
Potential for increased insurance premiums and possible strains on provider availability.
What is still unknown
The exact clinical definition of a 'mental health checkup' and the limitations on what type of plans are subject to the mandate.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Mixed / Neutral
55%
Benefits
- Standardizes coverage requirements across health insurance providers.
- Encourages preventive care which can reduce long-term medical costs.
- Supports the behavioral health provider market through increased demand.
Risks
- Increases administrative and coverage costs for insurance companies.
- Potential for premium increases passed on to consumers.
- Limits plan design flexibility for insurance providers.
Society
Positive outlook
70%
Benefits
- Improves equity by expanding access to mental health screenings.
- Reduces financial barriers for seeking behavioral health checkups.
- Normalizes mental health checkups as part of routine physical care.
Risks
- Risk of cost-shifting making insurance less affordable.
- Potential for disparate impact if mandates exclude certain plan types.
- Ambiguity regarding the scope and definition of 'screening'.
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
80%
Benefits
- Facilitates earlier diagnosis of mental health conditions.
- Integrates behavioral health into standard preventive medical care.
- Promotes systematic monitoring of mental wellness.
Risks
- Potential strain on existing provider capacity for follow-up.
- Risk of providers prioritizing volume over depth of screening.
- Potential for diagnostic uncertainty without standardized protocols.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
LegiScan returned a PDF-only document. PDF extraction is not enabled in this build, so the pipeline used a safer fallback.
Analysis scope
Source material is limited to a brief summary abstract.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedCurrent
- CommitteeUpcoming
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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