Aaron Flint Compared Federal Medicaid Dollars To A “Fiscal Narcotic,” Echoing A Legislator’s Comment That The Funds Were “Like Heroin,” Even Though Medicaid Expansion Covered More Than 77,000 Montanans

2012: Flint Compared Federal Medicaid Dollars To A “Fiscal Narcotic,” Echoing A Legislator's Comment That The Funds Were “Like Heroin”

2012: In Discussing Medicaid Expansion, Flint Amplified Comments A Montana Legislator Made Saying Federal Dollars For Medicaid Would Be “Like Heroin.” “The Flint Report, Billings, posted by Aaron Flint on Monday: ‘Since the US Supreme Court ruled that the federal government cannot punish states for refusing to implement Obamacare, the debate to expand Medicaid will soon face the Montana State Legislature. While the federal government would initially cover the costs of a Medicaid expansion in Montana, state Sen. Dave Lewis (R-Helena) tells The Montana Watchdog's Dustin Hurst that accepting those federal dollars would be ‘like heroin’ for the state of Montana. ‘It's like heroin,’ Lewis told Watchdog.org Friday. ‘Once you buy in, you're in.’ And as with most dealers, Congress is offering the first two years of free hits on the fiscal narcotic for free: In 2014 and 2015, the feds will cover all costs for new enrollees signing up under the new guidelines.’” [Great Falls Tribune, 7/6/12]

Flint: “And As With Most Dealers, Congress Is Offering The First Two Years Of Free Hits On The Fiscal Narcotic For Free.” “The Flint Report, Billings, posted by Aaron Flint on Monday: ‘Since the US Supreme Court ruled that the federal government cannot punish states for refusing to implement Obamacare, the debate to expand Medicaid will soon face the Montana State Legislature. While the federal government would initially cover the costs of a Medicaid expansion in Montana, state Sen. Dave Lewis (R-Helena) tells The Montana Watchdog's Dustin Hurst that accepting those federal dollars would be ‘like heroin’ for the state of Montana. ‘It's like heroin,’ Lewis told Watchdog.org Friday. ‘Once you buy in, you're in.’ And as with most dealers, Congress is offering the first two years of free hits on the fiscal narcotic for free: In 2014 and 2015, the feds will cover all costs for new enrollees signing up under the new guidelines.’” [Great Falls Tribune, 7/6/12]

March 2025: Gov. Gianforte Signed A Bill Into Law To Continue Montana’s Medicaid Expansion Program, Which Covered More Than 77,000 Montanans

March 2025: Gov. Gianforte Signed A Bill Into Law To Continue Montana’s Medicaid Expansion Program. “A bill to lift the 2025 sunset on Montana’s Medicaid expansion program was signed into law Thursday by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte — though without a press release or public fanfare. In a written statement Friday morning, a spokesperson for the governor said he supports the ‘safety net’ of Medicaid ‘for those who truly need it,’ while endorsing work requirements and other, undefined guardrails on the low-income health coverage program. Gianforte’s approval of House Bill 245, sponsored by Rep. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, punctuates the journey of one of the most high-profile policy bills this session. The legislation sparked hours of testimony from program supporters and minimal appearances from opponents.” [Montana Free Press, 3/28/25]

• The Bill Ended The Recurring Termination Date That Accompanied Medicaid Expansion Since Lawmakers First Approved It In 2015. “HB 245 ends the recurring termination date that has accompanied the Medicaid expansion program since lawmakers first approved it in 2015. It continues work requirements that legislators added in 2019 that have not taken effect because of the federal government’s changing stance on that policy, a landscape that may shift again under the administration of President Donald Trump.”

September 2024: More Than 77,000 Montanans Were Covered By Medicaid Expansion. “Medicaid expansion covers adults between the ages of 18 and 65 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. In Montana in 2024, that stacks up to about $1,700 of pre-tax monthly income for an individual and about $3,500 for a family of four. As of September, the number of Montanans covered by Medicaid expansion hovered around 77,400 people, compared to about 81,700 children and 45,700 adults enrolled through traditional Medicaid.” [Montana Free Press, 1/8/25]