Letter to the Editor: Meyers, Windy Boy praised for Medicaid expansion vote

Editor:

Each day I am honored to provide care to individuals who live, work and play in our community. Some of these individuals, who are our friends, family and neighbors, delay getting medical care due to having little to no money and a lack of insurance. With the passage of the Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership Act by our Legislature, this could soon change. This was a bill filled with compromise and is a bill of hope for many. I applaud

Rep. Bruce Meyers and Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy for their willingness to work across the aisle during the legislative session to strike a compromise that will provide a new health coverage option for low income Montanans.

Rep. Meyers’s and Sen. Windy Boy’s support of this historic piece of legislation demonstrates vision. A vision that improves access to health care for low income Montanans, offers a chance to innovate and reform, and works to establish an effective health care system for all of us.

The HELP Act, by providing the opportunity for health insurance coverage, will allow more individuals to receive the care they need, when they need it and in a lower cost setting.  As these newly insured individuals access medical care, they will be able to manage their health better, keeping minor health issues from becoming major issues. This is great news for these individuals. It is also good news for you and me as it will reduce uncompensated care — care costs that are shifted to those who are insured. It will also help our community to keep needed medical services local and is likely to create jobs right here. This is the fabulous news for our local economy.

The HELP Act proposes a made-in-Montana solution that will be captured in Montana’s draft waiver and submitted to the federal Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services. This is a necessary step in advancing Montana’s choice to implement a plan that includes provisions outside of traditional Medicaid.

It was a proud moment to see Rep. Meyers and Sen. Windy Boy do the right thing by voting for the HELP Act. Our community is served well by these actions, and Montana is served well when the primary focus is on the well-being of our citizens and state.

Dr. William Gallea

Legislative Committee Chair

Montana Medical Association