2 opponents named to Medicaid expansion panel

HELENA (AP) Two of the biggest opponents of Medicaid expansion in Montana are going to be members of the panel that oversees it.

Gov. Steve Bullock and legislative leaders are releasing their picks Friday for a nine-member Medicaid expansion committee.

GOP leaders picked two vociferous opponents of the measure, Bozeman Rep. Art Wittich and Bigfork Sen. Bob Keenan, to represent the conservative caucus.

"We won't be sitting in the committee meetings with pom-poms," Keenan said.

Democrats chose Ramsay Rep. Pat Noonan and Helena Sen. Mary Caferro.

Bullock's office will release his picks for the five non-legislative members Friday afternoon.

Notably absent from the legislative appointments is the sponsor of the new law, Sen. Ed Buttrey. The moderate Republican from Great Falls was sidelined by Senate President Debby Barrett, who instead chose Keenan, a finance specialist.

"Our leadership in the Senate is farther right than I guess they think I am," Buttrey said.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Jon Sesso said he fleetingly considered appointing Buttrey to the committee, but he knew it was more important to choose someone from his own party. "I believe that Sen. Caferro will be a great advocate for making sure the bill gets implemented in the manner agreed to," Sesso said.

The committee will determine how to fund the program, reduce Medicaid fraud and increase access to mental health services, among other things.

Keenan said he's accepted that the bill he voted against four times this session has become law, but he will continue to look at it with a critical eye. He wants answers on the total cost of the program, dubbed the Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership Act.

The U.S. government must still approve Montana's expansion plan. Some federal officials worry the measure will impose significant cost-sharing and premiums on people with very low incomes. Keenan shares some of those concerns.

"How is HELP going to be implemented, for instance, on the Rocky Boy Reservation where there are limited job opportunities?" Keenan said.