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Committee advances reauthorization of Montana’s HELP Medicaid expansion after hours of testimony
Summary
The Senate Public Health Committee heard hours of testimony in favor of House Bill 245, the HELP Act reauthorization, with healthcare providers, tribal leaders, businesses and people with lived experience urging continuation. The committee advanced the bill in executive action by a 6–5 roll-call vote.
Representative Ed Buttrey told the Senate Public Health Committee that House Bill 245 would continue Montana’s Medicaid expansion program, known as the Health and Economic Partnership (HELP) Act, and preserve its workforce-development provisions.
The hearing drew broad support from hospitals, tribal health leaders, medical professionals, business groups and Montanans who said the program improved access to care, reduced uncompensated care for providers, and helped people get healthy and into work. Speakers included rural hospital leaders, tribal clinic CEOs, primary-care and behavioral-health providers, and individuals who credited the expansion with helping them obtain treatment and employment.
Buttrey described program outcomes from the past decade and emphasized the HELP Act’s…
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