Protecting Medicaid in Montana

What’s Happening:

Congress is considering significant Medicaid cuts that would have far-reaching consequences for Montanans’ health and our access to comprehensive, 24/7 hospital care.

Why it Matters:

More than 1 in 5 Montanans rely on Medicaid for their healthcare coverage, and two-thirds of people covered by Montana Medicaid live in rural areas. Federal funding for Medicaid is critical to rural hospitals & providers across the state offering essential services — including obstetrics care, behavioral health services and primary care.

Cutting the Medicaid program risks significantly reducing access to care and services for all Montanans

If lawmakers don’t protect Medicaid, in Montana thousands of eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities could lose coverage. Now is not the time to rip the rug out from under a successful safety net that is one of the cornerstones of our healthy communities and economy.

Along with putting health coverage for more than 212,000 Montanans at risk, funding cuts to Medicaid would have negative fiscal impacts on the Montana state budget, our economy and hospitals, driving up healthcare costs for everyone.

Montana Medicaid keeps people healthy & it protects rural healthcare

Federal funding of Medicaid is critical to protecting coverage, access and healthcare providers:

Medicaid helps keep patients in rural areas covered. Rural patients are more likely to suffer from chronic illness making them more likely to rely on Medicaid services.
In Montana, 4 out of 10 births are covered by Medicaid. Along with obstetrics care, Medicaid supports enhanced access to vital behavioral health services and primary care
Coverage provides healthcare services for vulnerable populations. Medicaid is an essential source of coverage for Native Americans in Montana, who comprise only 6% of the state population but 21% of its Medicaid enrollment.
Rural hospitals rely on Medicaid funding to continue providing lifesaving care to their patients. On average, Medicaid represents 15.4% of revenue at Montana hospitals. For some hospitals, it’s more than 50%.

“Medicaid expansion is the only reason that me, and millions of people around the country, and thousands of people around Montana, are able to go to the doctor at all.”

Ali Wahl
Sheridan, MT

85

of Montanans said in a recent survey that they want to keep the current Medicaid program as it is today.

20

of Montana’s population is covered by Medicaid (1 out of 5), including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities.

76

of Montana’s adult Medicaid participants are employed or attending school. The majority of the rest of Medicaid recipients are either caretakers or have a disability that prevents them from working.

40

of births in Montana (4 out of 10) are covered by Medicaid.

65+

of Montana Medicaid enrollees (2 out of 3) live in rural areas, making this an important health coverage option for rural Montanans.