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Lawmakers hear case to make Montana's Medicaid expansion permanent; sponsors cite jobs, hospital stability
Summary
Representative Ed Buttry told the House Health and Human Services Committee HB245 would remove the sunset on the HELP Act (Montana's Medicaid expansion), arguing a decade of data shows lower uninsured rates, more behavioral-health services and net budget savings; tribal leaders, hospitals and business groups urged passage.
Representative Ed Buttry opened the hearing on House Bill 245 by asking the committee to remove the statute's sunset and make Montana's HELP Act permanent. "We're not doing anything to expand the current law, but simply desire to remove the existing sunset in our program," Buttry said, calling the HELP Act a decade'long Montana innovation that pairs health coverage with work and training supports.
Buttry told the committee the HELP Act has reduced uncompensated care and helped sustain rural hospitals while increasing labor-force participation among enrollees. He said the law's economic-development component (HelpLink) identifies barriers to employment and…
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