Medicaid Expansion Works for Every County in Montana

Tara Jensen | March 2019 | Presented by the Montana Budget & Policy Center

Since Montana passed the bi-partisan Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership (HELP) Act in 2015, Medicaid expansion has been a vital source of health care coverage for nearly 100,000 Montanans. Each of Montana’s 56 counties is home to individuals, families, and workers who have benefitted from both preventive health services that detect treatable health concerns early and access to behavioral health services, such as counseling, addiction treatment services, and medications for mental illness.

All corners of our state benefit from Medicaid expansion. The program has been critical for the 18,000 businesses – large and small – across the state that have at least one employee enrolled. It has also helped thousands of Montanans find new and better employment opportunities and brought in millions of federal dollars now flowing through local economies.

Highlights of the data include:

• County enrollment in Medicaid expansion ranges from 27 enrollees in Petroleum County (Winnet county seat with total county population of 523) to 14,118 enrollees in Yellowstone County;
• In Ravalli County alone, 1,440 Montanans have accessed inpatient and outpatient treatment services for mental health needs;
• Over 44,000 Montanans accessed counselors, doctors, support groups, or medication to treat and manage mental health issues or addiction;
• 7,034 have received colon cancer screening, averting 2,554 possible cases of colon cancer;
• More than 92,380 Montanans have accessed 300,000 preventive care services;^[1]
• Every county had at least 30 percent of their businesses employing at least one Medicaid-covered worker;^[2] and
• The Department of Labor and Industry provided approximately 29,000 Montana Medicaid clients with a variety of workforce services.^[3]

Montana Medicaid expansion has proven to be a successful program, one that helps working families, employers, and the broader economy. From Carter County to Lincoln County, Medicaid expansion is working for Montana. The 2019 Legislature has all the facts it needs to reauthorize this bi-partisan, Montana-made health insurance program in its current form.

Appendix A provides county-specific data for Medicaid expansion total enrollment and percent of county population.^[4]

Appendix B provides county-specific data for the number of Medicaid enrollees who have received preventive screenings, and the total number of total preventive health care services for Medicaid enrollees.^[5]

Appendix C provides county-specific data for the number of Medicaid enrollees who have accessed inpatient and outpatient mental health services and substance use disorder treatment services.^[6]  

Appendix D provides county-specific data for the number of Medicaid enrollees in Montana who use HELP-Link.^[7],[8],[9]

Appendix A: Medicaid Expansion Total Enrollment and as Percent of County Population, January 2019

Total Statewide Medicaid Expansion Enrollment 95,973 adults; 9.4% of the state population.

Appendix B: Medicaid Expansion Enrollees Who Have Accessed Preventive Screenings and Total Preventive Health Care Services, January 2019

Total Preventive Screenings and Total Preventive Health Care Services for Medicaid Enrollees

7,901 have received breast cancer screenings and 7,034 adults have received colon cancer screenings

Appendix C: Medicaid Expansion Enrollees Who Have Accessed Inpatient and Outpatient Services for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, January 2019  

Total Medicaid Enrollees Who Have Accessed Inpatient and Outpatient Services for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

30,980 adults have received outpatient mental health services

3,291 adults have received inpatient mental health services

7,837 adults have received substance use outpatient services

2,099 adults have received substance use residential services

Appendix D: Businesses Employing Medicaid Expansion Clients by Total Number and as Percentage of All Businesses, and Total Number of HELP-Link Clients, January 2019