Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

Federal officials released the final rules for Medicaid requirements this week. Hiding among the nearly 400 pages of regulations is a significant change that could make it harder for Montanans to stay on the public health insurance program.

Some state Medicaid services are on the chopping block due to a budget shortfall. The state health department estimates it will need at least another $7 million, but isn’t saying what services might be cut.

Montana’s health department says it’s moving forward with plans to reimburse trained, non-medical maternal health professionals called “doulas” through Medicaid. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy sat down with KFF Health News reporter Katheryn Houghton to get the update.

Hundreds of miles of open road can stretch between expectant mothers and the maternity care they need in rural Montana. That’s where trained, non-medical professionals called “doulas” can help fill the gap. Montana was set to start reimbursing doulas through Medicaid this year, but federal cuts to the health program have put that plan on ice.

Montana health officials say they will roll out new Medicaid work requirements by July, months ahead of the federal deadline. There’s been worry the state is moving too fast and that Montanans who still qualify will lose coverage. The Montana Healthcare Foundation has released a list of actions it says the state can take to avoid that fate.

Earlier this year, federal lawmakers created a $50 billion program to support rural health care. It came as a result over concerns that cuts to Medicaid will shutter many rural hospitals across the nation.

Montana Health officials have selected Laurel as location for a new $26.5 million state mental health treatment facility. The health department was looking for a location in the eastern portion of the state. The facility is intended to help address a backlog at the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs.

State health officials say they are working to quickly send partial payments to families on federal food assistance. A court ordered the Trump administration to partially fund the SNAP program during the federal government shutdown.

Federal food benefits for low-income Americans won’t be available next month. Federal officials say funding has run dry because of the government shutdown.

State health officials told lawmakers this week they will likely need more funding to implement Medicaid work requirements.