Democrats grill Hansen on expanded Medicaid

Republican lawmakers who oppose Gov. Steve Bullock's plan to expand Medicaid to serve an estimated 70,000 people got a grilling from Havre Democrats who favor the plan.

Former State Rep. John Musgrove and Lynn Hamilton, a former member of the Montana Board of Regents, were sharply critical of comments made by House member Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, a member of the House Human Services Committee, after she voted to kill Medicaid expansion.

They made the comments at a weekly video conference in which area residents sitting in the Robins School Administration Building talked to the Hi-Line legislative delegation via a video connection to Helena.

Musgrove was critical of Hess' contention that the plan would cost the state $34 million in the first year and might rise as high as $250 million annually in later years.

He noted that the fiscal note attached to the bill estimated the cost substantially lower.

The federal government will pick up 100 percent of the cost in the first two years, and 90 percent after that.

But opponents fear that the federal government will renege on the promise, leaving the state holding the bag. The Bullock legislation says the state can terminate the program if that happens.

Hamilton said the Bullock proposal would help people who are caught in the tough situation where they make too much money to be on Medicaid but not enough to qualify for insurance subsidies from the federal Affordable Care Act.

Hess usually attends the video conferences, but she did not attend Tuesday's session.

But State Sen. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, said she held similar concerns about the Bullock proposal.

But she promised to work for alternative ways of providing help to these people.

"We don't want anyone sitting out in the cold," she said.

A proposal by Sen. Nancy Balance, R-Hamilton, is not the Republican alternative to Bullock's proposal, as newspapers have reported, she said, just one piece of the GOP proposal.

Expanded Medicaid could spiral out of control, she said, and she feared that one in five Montanas could eventually be on Medicaid, which would be far too costly for taxpayers.

"I don't think the state of Montana was created to be an insurance company," she said.

Expanded Medicaid opens the door to "the worst health care system in the country except for Indian Health Services and the VA," Hansen said.

Hansen was also wary of potential abuse with Medicaid. Someone with a 2,000-acre ranch and many head of cattle could wrangle their finances so they technically have no income, and they would eligible for Medicaid, she said.

She also questioned how many of the 70,000 people covered under the plan were able-bodied and were able to work.

That angered Hamilton.

"You have built up the myth that there are lazy people who want to sit on their couch and play video games," she protested.

She also defended Veterans Administration, saying that in Montana it is providing tremendous services, and if there is a problem it's because of sequestration and cuts imposed by Congress.

She said half of the people on Medicaid could get off it if the Legislature raised the minimum wage and required employers to pay for health benefits for part-time employees.

Democrats sought to revive the governor's proposal on the house floor Tuesday, but the effort failed.