Governor Steve Bullock appeared at Community Medical Center on Wednesday to promote the passage of I-185, the initiative that would permanently fund the Medicaid expansion.
There are two initiatives proposed for the November ballot that are prompting state legislative leaders to poll their fellow members for a possible special session proposed for July.
According to the Montana Healthcare Foundation, Medicaid expansion has saved millions of dollars in the state’s budget, as well as helped tens of thousands of people receive preventive healthcare services.
According to the Chief Financial Officer for Providence Hospitals in Montana, Kirk Bodlovic, St. Patrick Hospital alone will be absorbing a total of about $13 million in Medicaid expansion costs over the next two years.