Communicable Disease Reporting in Montana
In Montana, health care providers, health care facilities, laboratories, child day care facilities, and schools are required by Administrative Rules to notify public health authorities at their local health jurisdiction of suspected or confirmed cases of select diseases and conditions. In Montana, these are referred to as reportable conditions.
Administrative Rules of Montana (37.114) contain general provisions for reporting and control measures for communicable diseases in Montana. Conditions should be reported to the local public health department who will, in turn, report this information to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services - Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Program.
Click here for a complete list of reportable conditions in Montana.
Montana Communicable Disease Rules 37.114 (sub-chapters) with the most recent changes effective July 27, 2024, can be accessed at the links below. Please contact the Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section at (406) 444-0273 for additional information on state statutes and/or rules.
The Montana legislature specifies the roles and responsibilities of the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (MT-DPHHS) through the Montana Code Annotated. In relation to the reporting and control of communicable disease, MCA 50-1-202 (p) grants MT-DPHHS with the authority to “adopt and enforce rules regarding the reporting and control of communicable diseases”. This responsibility is executed through specific rules in the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) [ARM 37.114].
| Topic | Administrative Rule |
| Definitions | 37.114.101 |
| References incorporated | 37.114.105 |
| Reporters (who is required to report, use of Electronic Laboratory Reporting, where the report goes, timeline for reporting) | 37.114.201 |
| Reportable diseases and other conditions of public health importance | 37.114.203 |
| Reports and report deadlines for local health officers and laboratories performing HIV testing | 37.114.204 |
| Information required to be included with reports | 37.114.205 |
| What general steps must be performed after a report is received (e.g., definition of "sensitive occupations and settings", quarantine and isolation, investigation of the case, outbreaks) | 37.114.301-37.114.316 |
| What conditions require specimens to come to MTPHL for confirmatory testing | 37.114.313 |
| What diseases-specific steps must be performed after a report is received | 37.114.501-37.114.590 |
- Administrative Rule of Montana 37.114.203 and 37.114.313
Administrative Rule of Montana 37.114.201
(1) With the exceptions noted in (3), (4), and (5), any person, including a physician, dentist, nurse,
medical examiner, other health care practitioner, administrator of a health care facility or
laboratory, public or private school administrator, day care facility or youth camp personnel, or
laboratory professional, who knows or has reason to believe that a case exists of a reportable
disease or condition defined in ARM 37.114.203 must immediately report to the local health
officer the information specified in ARM 37.114.205(1) and (2).
(2) A local health officer must submit to the department, on the schedule noted in ARM 37.114.204,
the information specified in ARM 37.114.205 concerning each confirmed or suspected case of
which the officer is informed.
(3) A state-funded anonymous testing site for HIV infection is not subject to the reporting
requirement in (1) with regard to HIV testing.
(4) With the exception of a licensed healthcare provider, reporters under (1) may report directly to
the department at the department's request with approval of the local health authority.
(5) With the exception of diseases listed in ARM 37.114.204(1) and (2)(a), laboratories, with the
consent of the local health officer, may utilize electronic laboratory reporting (ELR) to satisfy (1).
Authorizing statute(s): 50-1-202, 50-17-103, 50-18-105, MCA
Implementing statute(s): 50-1-202, 50-2-118, 50-17-103, 50-18-102, 50-18-106, MCA
- Contact Your Local Health Department. Your local health department will have instructions on what information should be included with the report and how to submit the report (e.g., confidential email, fax, etc.).
- If your local health department is unavailable, contact our Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section.
For facilities looking to establish an Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) connection with MTDPHHS, please register for onboarding by completing the “DPHHS Public Health Meaningful Use Registration” survey located at the bottom of the MTDPHHS Public Health Promoting Interoperability page.