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Committee backs 'presumptive eligibility' measure to speed home care for older Montanans
Summary
House Human Services heard Senate Bill 72 to allow trained community partners to provide presumptive Medicaid eligibility for home- and community-based services, proponents said it could get care started within days and avert costly hospital or nursing-home stays; DPHHS warned federal approvals may delay full implementation.
Senators and witnesses told the House Human Services Committee Wednesday that Senate Bill 72 would let trained local partners temporarily approve Medicaid eligibility so elderly Montanans can begin home- and community-based services while formal eligibility is determined.
Senator Mike Yakawich, sponsor, said the proposal is aimed at people on fixed incomes who rely on family caregiving and at-risk older adults who could wait 60 to 90 days for formal Medicaid decisions. "This bill is intended for people to stay at home," Yakawich said, describing the measure as a way to get services started sooner and, he argued, save the state money by avoiding expensive hospitalizations and nursing-home placements.
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