Conservative groups are working to undermine support for Montana’s Medicaid expansion program, hoping the state will abandon it when it expires next year. The Foundation for Government Accountability and Paragon Health Institute, funded by conservative donors, argue that the program’s costs are bloated and harm access to care for the most vulnerable. However, consulting firm Manatt, which studied Montana’s Medicaid program, stated that more people have access to critical treatment because of the expansion.
Opponents of the program, including Republican State Rep. Bob Keenan, argue that the decision to continue or end Medicaid expansion “comes down to who believes what.” The federal government covers 90% of the expansion cost, with the states picking up the rest. Montana is the only state considering shelving its expansion in 2025, with others potentially following suit.
Despite pushback from conservative groups, supporters of the program emphasize the benefits it provides to low-income individuals in the state. The upcoming debate on the future of Montana’s Medicaid expansion is expected to be complex and heavily contested when legislators convene in January.
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