Montana Governor Signs Medicaid Expansion into Law

Backers of Medicaid expansion celebrated in Helena as Gov. Steve Bullock signed the bill extending the health coverage to an estimated 45,000 more Montanans. Earl Old Person, Chief of the Blackfeet tribe, sang a victory song on the capitol steps honoring the Governor and lawmakers who passed the Medicaid expansion bill. Inside the capitol rotunda, a capacity crowd gathered for the signing ceremony and Bullock’s speech on the bill, known as the HELP Act. “There truly may not be any more important piece of legislation this year than the Montana HELP Act,” Bullock said. The HELP Act, sponsored by Great Falls Republican Sen. Ed Buttrey, is a compromise that won support from moderate Republicans after a similar bill backed by Democrats was shot down.

Source/more: Montana Public Radio/Kaiser Health News

David Wingate is an elder law attorney practicing in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland. The elder law practice concentrates on wills, powers of attorney, trusts, asset protection and Medicaid.