A legislative committee will continue work on studies related to the child protective services system and senior and long-term care when it meets Jan. 16-17 in Helena.

On Jan. 16, the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee will hear about barriers and challenges to providing or obtaining home and community-based services for the elderly and physically disabled. Members also will hear about recent policy changes affecting the services.

Also that day, the committee will take up a number of oversight activities related to the Department of Public Health and Human Services. Topics include the status of implementing the provisions of House Bill 658, which continued the Medicaid expansion program but required that some expansion enrollees work or participate in other community engagement activities as a condition of receiving Medicaid coverage.

On Jan. 17, the committee will work on the study of the child protective services system. Presentations will focus on the Office of the Child and Family Ombudsman, the Family First Prevention Services Act, parental rights, and ways to support families who are involved in the system.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. on Jan. 16 in Room 137 of the Capitol in Helena. It will continue at 8 a.m. on Jan. 17.

For more information about the meeting, including an agenda and related materials, visit the committee's website, www.leg.mt.gov/cfhhs, or contact committee researcher Sue O'Connell.

Committee Website: www.leg.mt.gov/cfhhs
Committee Staff: soconnell@mt.gov or 406-444-3597.