GOP offers a peek at Medicaid Expansion

Here is the first look at the Republican approach to Medicaid Expansion, based on an interview by NPR with GOP Rep. Ed Buttrey of Great Falls, who is leading his party's effort.
As expected, Buttrey's bill proposes some contributions from recipients, what Republicans call "skin in the game." There would be an 80-hour per month requirement to enroll in community engagement for certain people covered by the program. Buttrey anticipates that this requirement would cut the number of enrollees, but not by a lot. "Community engagement" could be hours worked on the job, or hours spent in a substance use disorder treatment, or in different types of counseling. And there would be some exemptions for people, such as for full-time caregivers, people with disabilities, people over the age of 65, pregnant women in their last trimester. Medicaid enrollees would have 180 days to comply. 
To help pay for the higher cost for tMedicaid Expansion (and slightly lower federal contribution), Buttrey's plan would set up a new fee on hospital revenues for outpatient services, as well as expand some insurance premium tax on health insurance companies.
An updated economic report yesterday says Medicaid expansion grows Montana's economy.  "The big numbers are roughly 6,000 jobs, roughly $350 million of personal income, $420 million of gross state product," economist Bryce Ward said at the state Capitol yesterday, presenting a follow-up to his April study on Medicaid expansion.


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