A Montana legislative budget panel agreed to a temporary $13 million tax on the state's biggest hospitals to balance its 2018-19 budget, Q2 KTVQ reports.
Here are four things to know about the proposed tax.
1. Under the tax, 14 Montana hospitals would pay a total of $13 million annually during the next three years beginning in June.
2. The size of the hospital would determine its individual fee, according to the report. The taxes range from $835,300 for the state's largest hospital, Billings Clinic, to $2,900 for Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center.
3. The measure passed initial votes in the state's House and Senate.
4. Montana Hospital Association Vice President Bob Olsen told Q2 KTVQ: "There's a feeling that the hospitals, especially the larger hospitals in Montana can afford to make this contribution to the state, inasmuch as they benefited from [Medicaid] expansion."