Montana Direct-Care Workers Receive Health Insurance

Last month, 900 Montana direct-care workers who provide Medicaid private duty nursing and personal care services started receiving health insurance under a new program called Health Care for Health Care Workers. The program was approved by the 2007 legislature and is currently up for extension during the legislative session. Under the program, Medicaid providers receive additional funds for health insurance for their workers if they meet certain requirements. Kate Hurley, who oversees Nightingale Nursing and Caregiving and Home Health of Montana, was interviewed by NPR about the proposal. Hurley said the program already stabilized their workforce which is prone to high turnover rates and vacancy. Mike Hanshew, Director of Policy for Montana Health Solutions, who sheparded the program through the legislature, said this program accomplished three important policy goals - providing more Montanans with health insurance, strengthening the long term care workforce, and helping people get off and stay off welfare - with one spending plan. "That makes this program unique," says Hanshew. An editorial in the Helena Independent Record called for "strong support" of the program's expansion as it would allow more people to remain at home. "There's something sadly ironic about people providing health care without having the peace of mind of health insurance themselves," wrote the editor. For more details on the Montana program, visit the Department of Health and Human Services. Allison Lee National Campaign Manager Health Care for Health Care Workers PHI