Medicaid expansion advocates form ballot committee

HELENA (AP) — Advocates want to take the question of Medicaid expansion straight to Montana voters.

The Montana Legislature rejected proposals to use federal money to expand Medicaid to those making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. A provision of the federal health care law provides the bulk of the money for such expansion.

Many Republicans opposed to implementation of the federal health care law argue the state could eventually be on the hook for the expansion.

On Wednesday, a coalition of health and consumer groups formed a ballot committee called Healthy Montana Initiative to lead the effort to write and qualify an initiative for the ballot.

Advocates say they expect voters will endorse expansion because it helps the working poor.