GOP gives thumbs down to Medicaid expansion

A push by Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock to expand Medicaid coverage to about 70,000 Montanans faltered in the Montana House last week.

House Bill 590, sponsored by Chuck Hunter, D-Helena, was tabled in committee last week on a 10-6 party-line vote.

Bullock was recently in the Flathead Valley promoting the bill, but he didn’t have much sway with Republicans, who introduced their own legislation calling for a study over the next two years rather than simply enacting Medicaid expansion.

House Bill 590 aimed to expand Medicaid coverage to 70,000 more Montanans, those earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, starting in 2014.

Bullock claimed the bill would create 17,000 more jobs in the state over the next seven years and would “focus on keeping people healthy.”

Under the bill, individuals making less than $15,400 or families of four making less than $32,500 would be eligible. Single persons making minimum wage and working full time would not qualify — they make $16,224 a year.

Bullock was quick to point out that legislators who voted “no” receive taxpayer-funded health care. But Republicans have said they’re worried about the cost of the bill, particularly in future years when the federal government ceases to fully-fund the program.