Medicaid

Threatened cuts to federal funding have Montana organizations anxious. The state Senate gears up for an ethics investigation. Medicaid expansion bills advance. The Democratic party is looking for a new leader. And state workers — and legislators — would get a pay raise under a proposed new pay plan.

Bills that would continue and end the state’s Medicaid expansion program are moving through the Legislature. More than a third of Fort Peck tribal members are enrolled in the program.

A bill that would make Montana’s Medicaid expansion program permanent will move onto the House floor. Montana legislators advance plan to give raises to state employees.

Up to 75,000 Montanans will lose health care coverage if lawmakers don’t renew Medicaid expansion. There are competing visions to make the program permanent and some who want to end it.

Gender identity and anti-trans legislation are a repeat focus this session. Lawmakers begin work on property tax changes. The governor is quiet about Medicaid expansion. Sen. Sheehy wants to know how many pushups the Secretary of Defense nominee can do.

Montana lawmakers will decide in the coming months what happens to health coverage for tens of thousands of people.

The state will soon offer a new drug treatment program and housing assistance through Medicaid.

More than 3 million adults in nine states would be at immediate risk of losing their health coverage should the GOP reduce the extra federal Medicaid funding that’s enabled states to widen eligibility, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit.

Gov. Greg Gianforte is proposing a nearly $18 billion budget to keep Montana’s government up and running over the next two years. The state is projected to continue to bring in strong revenues. Gianforte aims to invest in a few big projects, while cutting taxes. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar joined Corin Cates-Carney to talk through the big ticket items.

A new report shows that the population that uses public assistance programs is diverse.