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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 connects enrollees with job services run by the Department of Labor. "This is the part of the HELP Act where we focus on getting people into good-paying jobs," he said.
Proponents filled the witness list. In a recorded video, Bailey Torgerson of Bozeman described relying on Medicaid through college and said access to coverage was essential to completing her education and obtaining an insulin pump: "I don't think I would be in the place that I am today if I didn't have the Medicaid there to help me." Tribal leaders, including Stacy Summers of Fort Peck and Joel Rosette of Rocky Boy, told the committee expansion had funded tribal clinics, school-based health services and new tribal facilities.
Hospital leaders and statewide providers said HB245 preserves essential revenue and services for rural Montana. Cherie Taylor, president of Logan Health, said Medicaid expansion represented a meaningful share of her facilities' revenue and enabled the system to add behavioral-health staff. "Without this program, everybody loses, not just Medicaid," she said. Todd O'Hare, president of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, described the measure as a workforce and economic development tool.
Informational witnesses from DPHHS, the Department of Labor and the Legislative Fiscal Division stood by to answer questions about fiscal and operational effects. Committee members asked about the potential cost shift to private insurance if expansion ended and about the data behind sponsor claims that the program had produced statewide budget savings and job growth among enrollees. DPHHS and fiscal staff pointed to state and independent reports and said some effects depend on reimbursement rules and the reinsurance program.
No formal committee action was taken at the end of the hearing. The sponsor asked for a "do pass" recommendation, and the record will remain open for additional written testimony and submitted exhibits.
The committee adjourned the HB245 hearing and recessed before taking up additional bills.
