Medicaid Expansion is now a reality in Montana. Despite funding concerns at the national level, House Bill 245, carried by Rep. Ed Buttrey, a Republican from Great Falls, has been signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte.
In introducing the bill, Buttrey told his colleagues that this is something we do now or pay dearly for later. On the Provider side, Sen. Cora Newman, a Democrat from Bozeman, tells the KGEZ Good Morning Show that lives are being saved by Medicaid Expansion. She says many Montanans drive hours for their healthcare, but with Medicaid Expansion, there are more Critical Care facilities throughout the state.
It’s estimated that about 110m000 adults were covered by Medicaid Expansion in 2023. Perhaps the most important aspect of House Bill 245, which is now law, is that Medicaid Expansion will never end.
