No, ‘Millions’ of Montanans Won’t Pay Higher Premiums Because of Obamacare
AURORA, CO - MARCH 27: Medical assistant Ann Valdez gives Christian Casteneda, 12, a physical at a community health center on March 27, 2012 in Aurora, Colorado. The center, called the Metro Community Provider Network, has received some 6,000 more Medicaid eligable patients since the healthcare reform law was passed in 2010. Expansion of such clinics nationwide is considered key to serving the millions more patients set to be be covered by Medicaid if the healthcare reform passes the current challenge in the Supreme Court. Preventative health services and treatments at community health centers are also designed to reduce emergency room expenditures, which are up to 10 times more costly.
Photographer: John Moore/Getty ImagesMontana’s Republican-led legislature voted to expand Medicaid this week, taking the state one step closer to providing health insurance to an estimated 46,000 low-income residents. The vote happened after four hours of testimony from supporters of the bill—including hospitals—and opponents organized by Americans for Prosperity, the Koch-backed conservative advocacy group, according to Kaiser Health News.
In a statement released after the vote, AFP’s Montana State Director Zach Lahn wrote: