While American Indians represent about 8 percent of Montana's population, they reflect 16 percent of residents covered under the state's Medicaid expansion, according to the Independent Record.
Three things to know:
1. Before Medicaid was expanded in 2016, Montana had the highest rate of uninsured American Indians. Nearly 43 percent were uninsured in 2009 before the ACA passed.
2. At the beginning of 2019, about 15,550 American Indians were enrolled in Montana's Medicaid program, according to the Independent Record, which cites data from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
3. Medicaid expansion has helped providers like the Indian Health Service achieve higher reimbursements for services provided in hospitals and clinics. One provider in Montana, the Helena Indian Alliance, now bills third parties $850,000 a year, compared to $150,000 in 2015, allowing services and personnel to increase.
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