State officials are taking public comment on the plan to implement Medicaid expansion in Montana.
Montanans will have two months starting Tuesday to comment on the proposal, or waiver, which includes non-traditional elements such as monthly health care premiums for enrollees. The federal government must approve the waiver for Medicaid expansion to be implemented.
This spring, the Legislature passed and the governor signed the Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership (HELP) Act sponsored by Republican Ed Buttrey of Great Falls.
The new law would accept federal funds to expand Medicaid eligibility to about 80,000 people with incomes at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
The Department of Public Health and Human Services staff will submit the waiver to federal officials for approval once the comment period is complete.