Healthcare
There is a catastrophe currently happening for healthcare in Montana and around the country because of the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill.
Eight hospitals around Montana are in danger of closing, and at least two nursing facilities, because of cuts to Medicaid. Alex Lawson of Social Security Works! discusses these potential closures in this video.
Montana Hospitals at risk of closing:
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Northeast Montana Healthcare -- Poplar
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Prairie Community Hospital -- Terry
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Garfield Co. Health Center -- Jordan
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Logan Health -- Cutbank
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Big Horn Hospital -- Hardin
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Northeast Montana Health Services --Wolf Point
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Providence St. Joseph Medical Center -- Polson
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Big Sky Medical Center -- Big Sky
Nursing Facilities at risk of closing:
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Awe Kualawaache Care Center -- Crow Agency
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Montana Mental Health Nursing Home -- Lewistown
Keep in mind that all four of Montana's federal delegates - Sen. Steve Daines, Sen. Tim Sheehy, Rep. Troy Downing, and Rep. Ryan Zinke -- voted for these cuts to our healthcare.
For a deep dive into this information, please see this letter from Senators Markey, Merkley, Wyden, and Schumer: " [Because of] these drastic health care cuts that will kick millions of people off their health insurance coverage, rural hospitals will not get paid for the services they are required by law to provide to patients. In turn, rural hospitals will face deeper financial strain that could lead to negative health outcomes for the communities they serve."
Press Release
As Medicaid and Medicare Turn 60, Congress Enacts Law That Guts Coverage, Endangers Services and Shutters Local Hospitals To Finance More Tax Giveaways to Corporations
President Trump’s “Beautiful” Bill Has Ugly Consequences for Millions of Working Americans, Seniors, and People with Disabilities
[Helena, Mont] - July 30th marks the 60th Anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare, the nation’s largest and most popular government health care programs which together provide coverage and services to about 140 million Americans of all ages, including 218,000 in Montana. Medicaid and Medicare were signed into law on July 30, 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Medicaid and Medicare have provided Americans much to celebrate over the past decades, helping to bring the number of uninsured people to a record low, and helping to address crises like the opioid epidemic, COVID 19 and the growing demand for long-term care caused by the aging of the population.
But the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law by President Trump on July 4th will take health coverage away from 10 million people, raise premiums for millions more and starve state budgets of federal funding while at the same time shifting more costs to states.
And, although lawmakers who voted in support of the bill including Senators Steve Daines, Tim Sheehy and Congressmen Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing claim that the legislation will curtail wasteful spending and save Americans money, the reality is that the OBBBA doesn’t save money–it redirects it. Savings generated by cutting Medicaid and other basic needs programs are funneled into massive tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations. Although the new law cuts over $1 trillion from Medicaid, that’s not enough to cover the full cost of the tax breaks: the new law will add more than $3 trillion to the national debt by 2034, creating future fiscal burdens for families and the nation.
Read the rest of the report here.
Who is covered under which Healthcare Program?
Traditional Medicaid (including CHIP) covers people making below the poverty line, people who have a disability, children, and presumptively eligible pregnant women.
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Congress has found cutting these programs to be extremely unpopular.
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Recent messages emphasize that Congress is “protecting” these programs for vulnerable populations.
The next step up in the economic ladder is the Medicaid Expansion program population (made possible by the Affordable Care Act). This program provides coverage to low-income workers.
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To qualify for this program, you usually need to make between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty limit.
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Congressional letters to constituents regarding Medicaid cuts do not mention this program.
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The Medicaid Expansion program costs the Federal government approximately $44 billion per year, or $440 billion over a 10-year budget reconciliation period.
Lastly, the Affordable Care Act offers tax credits for small group buyers or individuals who purchase private health insurance coverage on the state healthcare exchanges, provided their employer is too small to offer group coverage (typically three employees or fewer).
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The original ACA provided tax credits to increase affordability.
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Expanded tax credits were initiated by Biden under The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and are set to expire in 2025.
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These enhanced subsidies benefit at least 7 million people. Congress has no plan to renew them.
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Eliminating the enhanced tax credits will affect people who earn above 400% of the poverty line, (approximately $62,000 per year for an individual).
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For example, a 60-year-old couple running a small two-person business, earning $82,000 annually, will see their subsidies expire and their premiums increase by $18,000 per year.
Medicaid Cuts in Federal Budget
Article: As G.O.P. Eyes Medicaid Cuts, States Could Be Left With Vast Shortfalls, by Noah Weiland and Sarah Kliff, New York Times, February 25, 2025
Cutting Medicaid spending, which is expected to be central to fulfilling the budget plan that House Republicans adopted Tuesday night, could result in millions of Americans across the country losing health coverage unless states decide to play a bigger role in its funding. Read more here.
Medicare Prescription Drug Negotiations
Article: Thousands of Montanans likely to benefit from lower drug prices under Medicare
by Carly Graf, Billings Gazette, August 20, 2024
"An estimated 25,000 Montana seniors will benefit from a pricing deal struck last week between the federal government and pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, the two parties negotiated directly to reduce maximum prices for 10 of the costliest and commonly used prescription drugs covered by Medicare." Read the full article here.
Gathering Wisdom Conference Slides
SJ Howell, Montana State Representative, explained Medicaid Expansion and Medicaid "Unwinding".
Molly Moody, Senior State Campaigns Manager at Health Care for America Now covered Federal Health Issues.