One on one hand, the Montana Legislature has voted to expand Medicaid. On the other, Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott has said he will sue the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for allegedly threatening to withhold other federal funds if the state fails to adopt expansion.
Both states are among six that have been on the fence for Medicaid expansion. The others are Alaska, Missouri, Tennessee and Utah.
Montana is expected to become the 30th state to accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid to eligible, low-income residents. Gov. Steve Bullock has said expanding coverage would throw a lifeline to rural hospitals.
[Also: See where states stand on the Medicaid expansion]
The bill passed the legislature Saturday and Bullock said he would sign it into law. The Democratic governor failed to get an earlier version of a Medicaid expansion bill passed.
State Sen. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, brought forward a compromise measure called the Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership Act that requires enrollees to pay premiums and copays and offers work incentives.
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In Florida, Scott has said no state can be forced to adopt expansion under the Affordable Care Act. The lawsuit would target CMS, which in a letter linked expansion to the release of Low Income Pool funds that help hospitals in the state care for the uninsured.
CMS denied coercion, but in a letter stated Medicaid expansion was an important consideration as it would reduce uncompensated care in the state, and therefore have an impact on LIP.
Twitter: @SusanMorseHFN