health care

At the Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday on the Missoula County Courthouse lawn, Montana senior Senator Jon Tester announced an appropriation of nearly $2 billion dollars for veterans health care. The vote was unanimous.

After nine months of work by a wide collaboration of community agencies, the 2015-2018 Missoula County Community Health Improvement Plan has been finalized.

On Thursday, Senator Steve Daines took to the Senate floor to blast the rising costs of Obamacare in Montana, as insurers across the state have asked for double-digit increases in premiums for 2016.

This week, Providence Health and Services Western Montana announced that it was embarking on a new venture called the Northern Rockies Healthcare Alliance, which could radically change the way that Montanans pay for health care.

This week, Governor Steve Bullock unveiled his Healthy Montana Plan of Medicaid expansion.

Montana Governor Steve Bullock is asking legislators to expand Medicaid in the state, but Republicans are out with their own plan that won't include taking federal funds. Montana State Senate Republican Fred Thomas says that Medicaid reform is a crucial component of the plan.

The deadline for individuals to sign up in the Affordable Health Care Marketplace is March 31, and new numbers have just been released for the state of Montana.

In the words of Montana's Insurance Commissioner Monica Lindeen, "Love it or hate it, Obamacare is the law, and Montanans have a lot of questions. I didn't write the law, but as Montana's Insurance Commissioner, I want to make sure all Montanans have the information they need to make the best decisions they can for themselves, their families and their small businesses."

The Wednesday edition of the Washington Examiner featured a story about a survey done by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce saying 74% of small businesses would have to cut jobs and hours due to the Affordable Care Act.

Earlier this week, Montana Attorney General Tim Fox approved the merger of Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Health Care Service Corporation. In conjunction with the merger, Fox announced on Friday the formation of the Montana Healthcare Foundation.