Archive for Human Services
HB 565, sponsored by Rep. Tim Furey (D-Milltown) was heard Monday before the House Business and Labor committee. HB 565, titled “Implement Montana Veterans Supplemental Health Insurance Program” will provide supplemental funds for qualified National Guard and U.S. reserve members to cover certain, additional costs associated to the federal TRICARE health insurance program. Read More→
HB 408, sponsored by Rep. JP Pomnichowski (D-Bozeman) was heard on Friday, February 13, by the House Business and Labor committee. HB 408, titled “Presumption of Covered Diseases for Safety Officers Under Work Comp” aims to streamline workers compensation claims, and disability retirements when firefighters, emergency medical technicians and peace officers are medically affected by exposure to toxic substances in the line of duty. Read More→
Spotlight on Montana’s uninsured
Posted by:Lawmakers pitching in to help aide after fall
Lawmakers here are taking up collections to pay the medical bills of one of their own employees who broke her arm over the weekend, but doesn’t qualify for state health insurance and doesn’t make enough money to buy coverage on the open market. Full story by Jennifer McKee in the Missoulian here .>>
House aide’s broken arm puts face on uninsured
Jenn Phalen looked into buying health insurance, but the $300 monthly premium was too much to cover with the wage she makes as a part-time assistant to the speaker of the House. Full story by Daniel Person in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle here .>>
"I think that it’s going to all work out, with the changes that we have agreed to. It’s not as much (spending for some programs) as I would’ve hoped, but apparently it’s more than other people wanted. As usual, we are trying to find the middle.” 
"[On term limits:] You empower the executive, you empower the lobbyists and that's not good for the system because then we lose what the citizen Legislature brings.” 