In recent interviews, legislative leaders predicted a vigorous debate over keeping the Medicaid expansion program, which pays the medical bills of more than 75,000 low-income Montanans at an annual cost of about $1 billion to the federal and state governments.
A last-minute change to a 2019 bill put an end date on Montana’s Medicaid expansion program, setting the stage for what is anticipated to be the most significant healthcare debate of the 2025 Montana Legislature.
Democrats in the Legislature have also talked about making Medicaid expansion a priority, but Republicans still hold majority control in the House and Senate.
Monica Tranel writes, "Montana had one of the highest rates of kicking eligible people off of Medicaid, forcing them to go without insurance or to re-enroll."
If federal funding is cut, Montanan and eight other states would automatically or nearly automatically end their Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions.
Medicaid expansion is a “crucial priority” for Democrats in the 2025 Montana Legislature — but Democratic leaders said Monday they want to do better than just continue the program.
Rebecca Hamler and Kade Anderson write, "In Montana, we know that when our kids succeed, everyone benefits. Let’s make sure all students in Montana have what they need to succeed; let’s continue to support Montana Medicaid."