Montana § 37-2-318 - Community Health Aide Program -- Exception To Licensing Requirements

§ 37-2-318. Community Health Aide Program -- Exception To Licensing Requirements

Community health aide program -- exception to licensing requirements. (1) An individual may, without obtaining a license under this title, provide health care services within the scope of the individual's certification in a practice setting operated by the Indian health service or a tribal health program authorized pursuant to Public Law 93-638, if the individual is certified by: (a) a federal community health aide program certification board established pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1616l; or (b) a federally recognized Indian tribe that has adopted certification standards that meet or exceed the requirements of a federal community health aide program certification board. (2) Services provided under this section must be provided in accordance with the standards adopted by the certifying body, including standards related to scope of practice, training, supervision, and continuing education. (3) After meeting the competencies required for the appropriate type and level of certification, an individual may practice under this section in the following areas: (a) dental health, as a primary or expanded function dental health aide, dental health aide hygienist, or dental health aide therapist to assist with dental education and primary or preventive dental care as appropriate to the individual's certification, and provided that performing dental extractions or invasive procedures to teeth and gums is prohibited; (b) behavioral health, as a behavioral health aide or behavioral health aide practitioner to assist with case management, patient and community education, and patient evaluation, treatment planning, and treatment activities as appropriate to the individual's certification. A behavioral health practitioner may, only under the general supervision of a licensed behavioral health professional, conduct routine screening, assessment, evaluation, and counseling of patients. (c) community health, as a community health aide or community health aide practitioner to assist with acute, preventive, and primary care services as appropriate to the individual's certification. (4) An individual providing services under this section may provide the services only while discharging official duties on behalf of the United States government under the Indian health service, a tribal health program authorized pursuant to Public Law 93-638, or an urban Indian health center.