Medicaid Works for Montana – Gov. Steve Bullock

Today, a new report https://mthcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BBER-MT-Medicaid-Expansion-Report_4.11.18.pdf touted the economic benefits of Montana Medicaid in creating jobs and expanding workforce participation in Montana. The report shows Montana Medicaid is saving the state millions, supporting our rural hospitals, creating new jobs, and boosting workforce participation among low-income Montanans by as much as 9 percent.

In 2015, I brought Republicans and Democrats together to create an innovative Medicaid plan with the HELP-Link program that identifies barriers to employment and connects Medicaid enrollees with high quality workforce training, employment services, job openings in their communities, and opportunities to advance their careers and earning potential.

Montana Medicaid ensures someone making less than $16,000 a year who gets a promotion or a raise, or just takes on more hours at work, doesn’t lose their health care just because they chose to work harder. By ensuring Medicaid covers people as they pull themselves out of poverty, we reward hard work – instead of punishing it by taking away people’s health care.

No other state has such a unique healthcare model, and what we are doing here in Montana is currently being explored as a model by other states.

The report also finds that Montana Medicaid benefits our overall economy by:

Creating 5,000 jobs annually;

Saving $40 million so far in state spending;

Generating $300 million in personal income;

Infusing $500 million into the state’s economy each year and bringing our federal tax dollars back home;

Increasing Health Center Medicaid revenue by over $11 million;

Decreasing uncompensated care costs by nearly 45%.

I hope you’ll all take the time to read through the full report https://mthcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BBER-MT-Medicaid-Expansion-Report_4.11.18.pdf – and share this information with friends, family, and folks in your communities.

Montana Medicaid is important not only to the health of our friends and neighbors, but it’s important to the overall health of our economy.

Medicaid is a good deal for Montana. We have a lot of work to do in the days ahead to ensure that this good deal remains a significant part of our economy beyond 2019. This report proves Medicaid works for Montana, and it’s absolutely critical that it continues.

Sincerely,

STEVE BULLOCK
Governor