Research

Medicaid Provides Stability for Montanans During Times of Crisis

During the stay-at-home order, Medicaid provided an important safety net to thousands of laid-off workers. Montanans on Medicaid expansion were more likely to lose their jobs during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without Medicaid expansion, thousands of Montana workers would have faced a dual tragedy of losing not only their jobs but also their health care in the midst of a public health crisis. Read the latest research on Medicaid’s impact here.

Montana Counties Benefit from Medicaid Expansion

Since the legislature passed the bipartisan HELP Act in 2015 and then reauthorized Medicaid expansion in 2019, tens of thousands of Montanans have benefited from lifesaving and affordable medical care. Medicaid expansion has also helped communities, businesses, and Montana’s economy. These fact sheets provide county specific enrollment, preventive services, and business support for all 56 counties. See all 56 county fact sheets here.

Montana Medicaid Expansion Dashboard

Get the latest information on enrollment, demographic data, services provided, and more in this interactive dashboard provided by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services. Learn more.

Up to 36,000 Low-Income People in Montana Could Lose Health Coverage If State Imposes Medicaid Work Requirements

New research by the Milken Institute of Public Health shows how many Montanans could lose access to health care under proposed work and reporting requirements. Read the report here.

The Economic Impact of Medicaid Expansion in Montana: Updated Findings

Medicaid expansion has a substantial effect on Montana’s economy. Each year, expansion brings over $600 million into Montana that would not otherwise be here. This money ripples through Montana’s economy, generating between 5,900 and 7,500, jobs each year between 2018 and 2020. Read the updated report from the Montana Health Care Foundation published January 2019.

Coverage Loss Under Harsh Work Requirements Could Disproportionately Hurt Rural Montana

Medicaid expansion has been a vital source for health care coverage for Montanans, with a disproportionate number residing in Montana’s rural communities. The Montana Budget & Policy Center released a short report highlighting how proposals to strip people of their health care if they fail to meet strict work and reporting requirements will be especially damaging in rural communities. Read the report here. 

Survey Results Find Montana Medicaid Expansion Enrollees Report Improved Health, Ability to Access Health Care Services

The Montana Health Care Foundation conducted a survey of Medicaid expansion enrollees and found that 43 percent reported an improvement in their general health, 69 percent had improved access to care and and nearly half reported an improvement in their ability to access needed mental health and substance use treatment services. Read the full survey results here. 

Medicaid Expansion County Data

How does the HELP act impact your county? Get county by county data provided by the Montana Budget & Policy Center. Learn more.

A Healthy Montana Workforce: Business and Employer Benefits

Understand how the expansion of Medicaid interacts with the state’s economy. This report by the Montana Department of Labor uses enrollment, wage and tax liability data from 2016 and 2017 and focuses on businesses and employers to further understand how the expansion of Medicaid interacts with the state’s economy.   Learn more.

Supporting Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment

Learn about how Medicaid expansion has contributed to a stronger prevention and treatment system for mental illness and substance use disorders in Montana. Report from the Montana Budget & Policy Center. Learn more.

Impact in Indian Country

Medicaid expansion has increased access to care in Indian Country and served as a critical resource for eligible American Indians who either have no insurance or who are dealing with inadequate care through IHS’s rationed system and can help reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes increasing life expectancy. Report from the Montana Budget & Policy Center. Learn more.

Regional Impacts

Medicaid has had substantial economic impact in every region of Montana. These series of five reports from the Montana Budget & Policy Center provide data for the central, north central, northwestern, eastern, and southwestern regions of Montana.

Montana’s Medicaid Expansion Connects People with Health Care and Work

Montana’s HELP-Link is already successful at connecting people with health care and jobs. Instituting new, harsh requirements would only serve to jeopardize this success. This report from the Montana Budget % Policy Center shows the successes of HELP-Link and outlines some of challenges enrollees have faced in Arkansas. Read the full report here.

Harsh Work and Reporting Requirements Could Disproportionately Hurt Indian Country

Medicaid expansion has transformed the health care system for American Indians in Montana. Proposals to strip people of their health care if they are unable to meet harsh work and reporting requirements will be especially harmful to American Indians because of greater barriers to accessing quality health care, persistent health disparities, insufficient employment opportunities in Indian Country, and inadequate infrastructure in Indian Country to satisfy reporting requirements. Read the full report from the Montana Budget and Policy Center.

Proposed Restrictions Could Undermine Montana’s Successful Medicaid Expansion

The national group the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities did an analysis about how proposals to restrict Medicaid access in Montana will impact the state including loss of coverage, increased uncompensated care, and increased administrative costs to the state.

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Montana Counties Benefit from Medicaid Expansion

Since the legislature passed the bipartisan HELP Act in 2015 and then reauthorized Medicaid expansion in 2019, tens of thousands of Montanans have benefited from lifesaving and affordable medical care. Medicaid expansion has also helped communities, businesses, and Montana’s economy. These fact sheets provide county specific enrollment, preventive services, and business support for all 56 counties. See all 56 county fact sheets here.

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