Lawmakers hear public testimony on Medicaid expansion bills

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana lawmakers are hearing public testimony on two bills to continue the state's Medicaid expansion program — the highest-profile issue facing the legislature this session.

A bill by Democratic Rep. Mary Caferro seeks to continue the program much as it has been since it began in 2016.

Republican Rep. Ed Buttrey wants to add work requirements for most able-bodied adults, expand an asset test and require religious corporations, such as Hutterite colonies, to pay the state's cost of coverage for their members.

Both bills would include a fee on hospitals' outpatient revenue in part to help pay the state's share of the cost and in part to help leverage additional federal funding to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates. Buttrey's bill also would tax certain health insurance premiums and premiums paid to the Montana State Fund for workers compensation insurance.