Southwest Montana News

Congressman Matt Rosendale of Montana has introduced the Path to Independence Act, a new bill that would allow states to impose work requirements on able-bodied adults enrolled in Medicaid. The legislation aims to help lift individuals off government reliance and into self-sufficiency.

Currently, Medicaid does not mandate work requirements, unlike most other welfare programs. Thirteen states had received approval under President Trump to implement such requirements, but these waivers were revoked by the Biden administration. Future waiver requests are also expected to be blocked.

Rep. Rosendale argues that allowing each state to define and apply its own work requirements will protect Medicaid for those truly in need. "The federal government should never dictate how sovereign states spend their money," said Rep. Rosendale. "My Path to Independence Act will prevent state governments from going broke while encouraging individuals to be financially independent and end their reliance on government handouts."

Mimi Singleton, Federal Affairs Director at the Foundation for Government Accountability, supports the bill: "The Path to Independence Act would guide individuals and taxpayer-funded programs down a better road—one that harnesses the power of work to change lives and fix broken budgets." She added that allowing states to implement a work requirement is the best way to prioritize limited resources for those truly in need and help others escape government dependence.

Medicaid was initially created in the 1960s to serve low-income children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. However, after the Affordable Care Act was passed, the program's focus shifted towards able-bodied adults. Data shows that Medicaid enrollment has increased from 34 million Americans in 2000 to 96 million in 2023. During this period, labor force participation rates have decreased from 67.1% in 2000 to 62.6% currently.

In Montana specifically, Medicaid spending represented approximately 18% of total state spending in 2015 before Medicaid expansion. By 2022, six years into Montana’s expansion, this figure had risen to over 25%, crowding out other key state priorities.