Montana Legislature green lights Medicaid expansion

A Republican proposal to leave current levels of Medicaid coverage in place in Montana is headed to the governor's desk as Congress considers billions of dollars in cuts to the low-income health program.

The Montana Senate gave final legislative approval to the bill in a 30-20 vote Thursday. Expanded coverage had been set to expire on the safety net program that insures more than 76,000 Montana residents. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte has voiced support for continuing coverage, but has not commented on the specific proposal.

A coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats carried the bill across the finish line, after effectively wresting control of the Senate agenda from conservative GOP leaders in recent days. The measure includes new work requirements for some Montana Medicaid enrollees, criteria that had been blocked under former President Joe Biden.