HELENA, Montana – House Bill 245 was approved today by the Montana House of Representatives, a crucial and promising step for legislation that will remove the sunset clause on Montana Medicaid expansion, assuring that tens of thousands state residents continue to have access to life-saving health care.
“This is obviously important to keeping Montana healthy and prosperous,” American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Montana Grassroots Manager Katharine Sutphen said. “The Montana House clearly heard the voices of their voters and we’re hopeful the Senate will be as open to the clear need for the program to continue.”
HB 245 is sponsored by Rep. Ed Buttrey of Great Falls and, if approved by the Senate and signed into law, would continue the program that was put in place by bi-partisan action nearly a decade ago. Montana Medicaid has served as the foundation for a healthy, prosperous state as well as a hand up for those who sometimes work multiple jobs but still cannot afford private health care. More than half of Montana Medicaid enrollees no longer need the program within two years or less, either gaining benefits through an employer or making enough to transition to a marketplace plan.
ACS CAN encourages individuals, businesses and organizations that are interested in getting involved in the fight against cancer to visit https://www.fightcancer.org/states/montana