Guest view: Medicaid expansion works for Montanans
Katherine Buckley-Patton, Montana Standard
There are few things as important as making sure children receive the health care services they need to thrive and grow up in our state. It is also critical our children’s parents and caregivers thrive and access healthcare services on a regular and consistent basis. Healthy parents with stable jobs are better able to raise healthy children.
As the former director of the Healthy Montana Kids (HMK) and CHIP Programs in our state, I know how important it is for children to receive routine well-child checkups, complete immunization vaccinations, and receive childhood screenings for chronic diseases. Prior to Montana’s Medicaid expansion, healthcare access was too often out of reach for parents and other adults not offered health coverage through employment.
Today, those covered by Medicaid expansion access preventive and routine healthcare, e.g. flu shots, regular physician visits, cancer and high-blood pressure screenings, etc. Adult medical coverage, coupled with preventive healthcare, not only makes good sense it makes good financial sense. When healthcare needs are resolved early, high cost emergency room services aren’t needed. Preventive services allow parents and families to maintain stable lives, jobs, and income. This stability is crucial for children to grow into healthy, productive adults.
Let’s make sure Montanans get needed individual health care so they’re able to get a job, and keep a job unencumbered by chronic health concerns. Let’s make sure thousands of workers, e.g. waitresses, motel clerks, ranch hands, hotel workers, nurses’ aides, custodians, and seasonal workers, get valuable basic health care. Let’s make sure these Montanans have the opportunity to better their lives, support their families, and contribute to our economy.
In Beaverhead County, 60% of our businesses employ at least one person enrolled in Medicaid expansion. Workers with health care coverage are more likely to work consistently and stay on the job longer. That’s good business and makes good sense. Let’s make sure we continue to support small businesses’ success.
HB 658 is a practical and pragmatic bill to continue Medicaid expansion in Montana. The bill passed the state House of Representatives and now needs the Senate’s support. HB 658 is a bi-partisan compromise to protect people’s health care. If it fails, Montana’s Medicaid expansion ends June 30, 2019. That doesn’t make good sense since healthcare coverage is an important link supporting stable Montana families.
Please ask your state Senators to support good financial decisions, healthy families, and a strong workforce for our state. Urge them to vote “YES” on HB 658. It just makes good sense.
Katherine Buckley-Patton of Dillon is former director of the Healthy Montana Kids and CHIP programs.