Bullock pitches Medicaid expansion for poor

Gov. Steve Bullock met with educators, local politicians and leaders of both Flathead Valley hospitals last week to pitch his Medicaid expansion plan.

The Democratic governor supports House Bill 590, sponsored by House Minority Leader Chuck Hunter, D-Helena. The bill would expand Medicaid coverage in the state starting in 2014 by covering the 70,000 more Montanans who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.

The federal government would pay nearly all the costs associated with the bill until 2017 and then reduce its support to 90 percent by 2020.

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. To put that in perspective, single persons making minimum wage and working full time would not qualify — they make $16,224 a year.

Bullock said the problem now is that hospitals are treating this segment of the population — but not in the right way. They’re going to emergency rooms when they get sick instead of doctors, and they’re not getting any preventative care.

Bullock noted that even conservative states were embracing this federal program.

“If we don’t do it, our tax dollars will go to other states, like Arizona,” he said, listing several other states as well.

The governor also noted that two-thirds of Flathead County voters in 2008 supported the expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program in the state, and statewide 75 percent voted for the expansion.

Hospitals often have to write off the costs of uninsured patients. According to a University of Montana study, hospitals in Montana provided $150 million in uncompensated care in 2010. North Valley Hospital in 2013 reported $22 million in unpaid service.

Something needs to give, proponents argued.

“The system we have now will definitely break our country,” North Valley Hospital CEO Jason Spring said.

But others weren’t so sure expanding Medicaid was the way to go.

Kalispell Health Care trustee Charlie Grenier, formerly an executive at Plum Creek, questioned the wisdom of embracing a program that might not see federal funding after a few years. Under the Bullock plan, a “circuit breaker” clause will roll the program back if federal funding doesn’t continue.

“I’m thinking of the obligation we’ve created … and then pulling it back. Is that the humane thing to do?” Grenier said.

“Is what we do now humane?” Bullock answered.

Kalispell Regional Medical Center CEO Velinda Stevens said she backed Bullock’s proposal.

“We support what you’re doing, and we can help you do it,” she said.

Kalispell mayor Tammi Fisher noted she was a “naysayer” and a Republican but supports the idea. She noted that fighting over President Obama’s Affordable Care Act is past history and it was time to take the funding.

“The bell has been rung,” she said. “Go get the dollars.”