House Votes to Charge Hospitals to Expand Pre-school Program

HELENA — The Montana House has endorsed a measure that would charge some hospitals in the state more than $13 million to pay for a three-year expansion of a voluntary pre-school rating program.

The House voted 72-28 Tuesday for a bill that contains what lawmakers are calling a “temporary hospital community benefit assessment” to be charged to the state’s 14 largest hospitals until 2019.

Rep. Rob Cook says the $4.3 million per year would go to a pilot program to expand the state’s existing Stars To Quality program. Stars to Quality as a voluntary rating and improvement system for early childhood programs.

One opponent, Rep. Derek Skees, says the proposal sounds like a backdoor attempt to pass Gov. Steve Bullock’s failed $12 million pre-school grant proposal.

Rep. Nancy Ballance says Stars to Quality is separate from the governor’s plan.

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