Page 29 - Flathead Beacon // 1.28.15

FLATHEADBEACON.COM JANUARY 28, 2015 | 29 HEALTH CARE
BUSINESSMONTHLY
Medicaid Expansion
at Fore of 2015
Legislature
An effort to widen coverage
for uninsured Montanans faces conservative challenges in Helena
By MOLLY PRIDDY of the Beacon
When the Affordable Care Act became law and survived a challenge in the U.S. Supreme Court, states across the coun- try had the choice to expand Medicaid coverage to include people making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
The 2013 Montana Legislature rejected the proposed expansion, which would have covered about 70,000 state residents. An attempt in 2014 to get the expansion on the state ballot was unsuccessful, and proponents of the expan- sion, including Gov. Steve Bullock, set their sights on the 2015 Legislature.
Now, with the legislative session underway, Medicaid expansion is once again on the agenda. Rep. Pat Noonan, D-Butte, in conjunction with Bullock, is sponsoring House Bill 249, which would create the Healthy Montana Plan to expand health care for low-income Montanans.
Dr. Ken Madsen inspects Johanna Schaeffer’s teeth at the Flathead Community Health Center.
GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
See Medicaid PAGE 31