Lawmakers discuss medical bills

Legislation being considered in Helena would help poor people get health care and reduce losses hospitals feel from having to provide uncompensated care for people who can’t afford to pay for it.

Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, said a bill introduced in the House would compensate hospitals for the money they have to spend on health care for people who need it but can’t afford it. Hess spoke at the weekly video conference held at Havre Public Schools’ Robins Administration Building.

Northern Montana Hospital, for instance, pays more than $1 million annually on such cases.

Under the terms of the legislation, the state would reimburse hospitals for some of the cost, Hess said.

One of the main reasons hospitals gave for supporting Gov. Steve Bullock’s proposal to expand Medicaid was that it would reduce uncompensated costs.Bullock’s plan was defeated in the House Human Services committee.

The bill is one of several plans Helena Republicans are proposing to provide care to low-income people.

Hess said another bill, proposed by House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Art Wittich, R-Bozeman, would help people with catastrophic diseases pay their bills.

The money would come from the state treasury.

As it is written now, it would cover only people with cancer and other specific diseases, Hess said, but amendments are likely to pass that would extend the coverage.

The bill requires sick people to pay the first $10,000 of the medical bills themselves, she said.

State Sen. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, said that figure will also be lowered.

“If somebody is making $11,000 a year, they won’t be able to afford to pay $10,000,” she said.

Also at Tuesday’s video conference, the emotional topic of guns on campus was discussed once again.

Hansen was a strong supporter of legislation that passed the Senate that would allow students to have guns on a limited basis on campus.

In response to a question from Val Murri of Havre, Hansen said students have a right to defend themselves.

“They have a right to keep and bear arms just like anybody else,” she said.

Tensions rose in the audience, as those supporting guns on campus argued with those who opposed guns in dorms.

Lynn Hamilton, a former member of the Montana Board of Regents, opposed the legislation and the way it was handled.

She said the state allows every other department and agency to decide policies on guns, but the bill took away that authority from the Regents.