Medicaid Expansion Debates Highlight State Challenges

Montana's Medicaid expansion is set to continue as a bill eliminating the program's sunset heads to Governor Greg Gianforte's desk for signing, ensuring healthcare access for 80,000 residents. The bill maintains work requirements for abled-bodied adults without dependent children, aligning with Gianforte's vision of Medicaid as a safety net. Meanwhile, nationwide discussions on Medicaid cuts are stirring political debates, with states like Mississippi and Alabama facing potential challenges due to high poverty rates and strict eligibility requirements. Despite Republican elites advocating for cuts, Medicaid remains popular among voters, with several states having expanded it through ballot initiatives. The coverage gap in non-expansion states like Alabama highlights the urgent need for expansion to support working families unable to afford healthcare. Concerns over federal cuts have deterred states like Mississippi from pursuing expansion, despite the significant number of residents reliant on Medicaid.