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Committee hears evidence medical‑respite pilot saves Medicaid dollars; department says waiver and data collection needed
Summary
Sponsor and pilots from Bozeman and Missoula described medical‑respite programs that move homeless patients out of expensive hospital beds into lower‑cost recovery settings and urged the committee to authorize Medicaid coverage; the department said a federal demonstration waiver and additional data will be needed for federal match.
Representative Ed Staffman (House District 59) opened the hearing on House Bill 274 by describing pilot medical‑respite programs in Bozeman and Missoula. He said hospitals pay roughly $1,700 per inpatient night while medical‑respite costs in pilots averaged about $140 per night; local pilot data showed avoided hospital nights and associated savings to Medicaid.
Cammy Kirchberg, manager of community health improvement at Bozeman Health,…
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