What To Know About Montana's Upcoming Medicaid Changes

We're getting a better idea now of how Montana leaders plan to implement changes in the Medicaid program after Congress approved changes in the new federal budget.

That includes requirements for higher premiums, and also working to continue receiving coverage.

The Department of Public Health and Human Services is releasing details of the "HELP" demonstration waiver, which would align the state's programs with the new rules for the next five years.

The state is starting a public comment period that will run until August 18th, which includes three upcoming meetings: two virtual and one "hybrid" with in-person comments.

July 29 (Virtual): Tribal Consultation from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. MDT. Click here to register for the meeting.
July 31 (Hybrid): Public meeting from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. MDT at the DPHHS Cogswell Building (1400 East Broadway St., Helena). Click here to register for the meeting.
August 1 (Virtual): Public meeting from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. MDT, accessible virtually only. Click here to register for the meeting.

💊 DPHHS says implementing the changes will "foster a culture of personal responsibility and upward mobility" for those on the Medicaid program.

Daines explains Medicaid changes

Senator Steve Daines says the Medicaid reforms are designed to target those who are abusing the coverage.

"There's about one and a half illegal immigrants taking Medicaid right now," Daines says. "We're going to take them off the rolls. We are going to insist that if you're able bodied, and you can work, think about young men who aren't showing up to work, sitting on the couch playing video games or streaming, when they should be at work. But they're sitting there on the couch taking Medicaid at the taxpayers' expense."

Daines argues the changes to Medicaid coverage are similar to the measures for welfare reform that were implemented in the 1990s.

Thieves hitting property tax scams

Local counties and cities across Montana are warning property owners to be on their guard against scammers, who are trying to take advantage of people as we enter tax season.

For example, in Missoula County, the Clerk and Treasurer's Office reports that some residents have been receiving letters and phone calls using "government terms and alarmist language" to try to convince people that they're delinquent on their property tax payments and that their property is about to be seized.

📵 Some of those are listing an "800" number, which the county says it will never use.

The jurisdictions say anyone who get a suspicious contact should double check directly with their local agency.

Missoula fire downsized

That fire near Missoula is smaller than first believed, with more accurate maps showing the Deer Fire had burned 75 acres. Cooler weather, and even rain showers, have been helping crews on that fire, and others across the state as they continue to build fire line and get ready for a return to warm, dry weather in the second half of the week.

USFS photo

Fatal accidents continue in Montana

More fatal crashes in the news, as a deadly summer continues on Montana's highways.

A 71-year-old woman from Rexford is one of the latest victims. Montana Highway Patrol was killed Sunday on the Yaak River Road in Lincoln County when the ATV she was riding on rolled several times. The 70-year old man driving the quad was take to Logan Health in Kalispell for his injuries.

And MHP reports a 51-year-old Billings woman was killed when she collided head-on with an SUV that hit a deer on Highway 212 in Carbon County. Troopers say another woman, also from Billings, lost control when she hit the deer and her Toyota's airbag deployed, veering into the oncoming lane and hitting the victim's Harley.