HELENA — The CEO of one of Montana’s largest hospitals says Republicans are helping to create the instability that is causing insurance companies to leave the federal health care exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act.
Benefis Health System CEO John Goodnow said Republican talk about reducing subsidies that help people buy coverage is a “slick trick” to ensure the exchanges will fail. Goodnow spoke Thursday in Helena at a health care forum organized by the Montana Nurses Association.
Panelists urged citizens to contact Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines to let him know they oppose a Senate health care proposal that would cut funding for Medicaid expansion and cut the federal deficit. Daines says he has not decided if he will support the Senate bill, but has said Medicaid should be reserved for the most vulnerable in our society.